How to Use Oracle Cards: Simple Steps for Beginners

These cards are sacred mirrors, reflecting your deepest truths and inner wisdom. By learning how to use Oracle cards, you’re reconnecting with the voice of your soul and reclaiming your ability to seek answers from within.

If you’re learning how to use Oracle cards and wondering whether you’re doing it right, you’re not alone. Many beginners expect instant clarity, but oracle cards work through intuition rather than logic.

Understanding how to use Oracle cards isn’t about memorising meanings or following rigid rules. It’s about learning to trust what you feel, notice patterns, and allow messages to unfold naturally. Oracle cards respond to your energy and intention, offering guidance that feels personal and supportive.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to use Oracle cards step by step — from asking meaningful questions to interpreting messages with confidence — whether you’re drawing a single card for daily insight or exploring deeper intuitive spreads.

Are Oracle Cards Different from Tarot Cards?

When learning how to use Oracle cards, it helps to understand how they differ from tarot cards — and why so many people feel naturally drawn to them.

Oracle Cards vs Tarot: What’s the Difference?

Oracle cards are often mistaken for fortune-telling tools, but in practice, they function more like intuitive guides. They reflect insight, emotional truth, and spiritual awareness rather than fixed predictions. At their core, oracle cards are designed to help you tune into your inner wisdom and receive guidance in a gentle, supportive way.

Unlike tarot, which follows a structured system of 78 cards divided into the Major and Minor Arcana, oracle cards are fluid by design. There are no strict rules, required spreads, or meanings you must memorise. Each oracle deck is unique, with its own theme, artwork, and energetic focus. This flexibility is one of the reasons learning how to use Oracle cards feels accessible for beginners and deeply meaningful for experienced readers.

Tarot works through layered symbolism and archetypes, while oracle cards tend to speak more directly to intuition, emotions, and spiritual guidance. Neither is better than the other — they simply serve different purposes. Many people choose to work with both, while others feel completely aligned with oracle cards alone.

Why You Feel Drawn to Oracle Cards

why you feel drawn to Oracle Cards

When discovering how to use Oracle cards, you’re not learning a system; you’re entering a conversation. A conversation with your intuition, your higher self, and the unseen guidance that supports you.

Oracle cards invite reflection rather than prediction. They help you listen inward, notice patterns, and trust what you feel. Many people are drawn to oracle cards because they feel reassuring rather than intimidating, especially for daily guidance, emotional clarity, or spiritual reassurance.

If you’re drawn to simplicity, intuition, and heartfelt messages, learning how to use Oracle cards can become a nurturing and empowering spiritual practice that grows with you.

How Can Oracle Cards Help You?

Learning how to use Oracle cards opens the door to insight, healing, and inspiration. Oracle cards are especially helpful when you’re feeling uncertain, emotionally overwhelmed, or in need of clarity.

They can support you when:

  • You’re facing a decision
  • You need reassurance or validation
  • You want to set the tone for the day
  • You’re reflecting during emotional or spiritual transitions

Rather than telling you what will happen, oracle cards help you reconnect with your own wisdom so you can make empowered, soul-aligned choices.

How to Choose Oracle Cards

Your deck becomes a companion, one that reflects your energy and speaks in a language your soul understands.

There is no “right” or “wrong” deck. Often, the deck chooses you before you consciously choose it.

Start by noticing what draws your attention. This may be the artwork, colours, theme, or simply the way the deck makes you feel. Trust that pull — it’s already part of learning how to use Oracle cards intuitively.

When you feel ready to start reading oracle cards for yourself, you may like to explore my YouTube video on the 6th Sense Connection Oracle Cards for gentle guidance and inspiration.

How Does the Oracle Deck Feel?

Pay attention to your physical and emotional response. Do the cards make you feel calm, inspired, comforted, or curious? A supportive oracle deck should feel welcoming, not overwhelming.

Are You Drawn to the Imagery and Theme?

Some decks focus on angels, healing, empowerment, nature, or intuition. Choose imagery that feels aligned with where you are right now. Your connection will naturally deepen over time.

Are the Messages Clear and Encouraging?

If you’re new to using Oracle cards, decks with clear, uplifting messages help build confidence and trust in your intuition.

Connection matters more than perfection.
You don’t need the most popular deck; you need the one that feels right for you.

How Does the Oracle Deck Feel

How do the cards make you feel? Do you get a tingle or a warm sensation when you touch them? Do they make you feel calm, curious, inspired, or comforted? A good oracle deck should feel supportive rather than overwhelming.

Are You Drawn To The Imagery and Theme

Some decks focus on angels, others on healing, nature, intuition, or empowerment. Choose imagery that feels soothing and aligned with where you are in your life right now.

Are The Cards Easy to Read With Clear Messages

If you’re new to learning how to use oracle cards, choose a deck with clear, encouraging messages like the 6th Sense Connection Oracle Cards. This helps build confidence and strengthens intuitive trust.

Connection Over Perfection
You don’t need the “most popular” deck. You need the one that speaks to you. When a deck feels familiar or comforting, that’s a sign you’re aligned with its energy.

6th Sense Connection Oracle Cards

how to use oracle cards

The 6th Sense Connection Oracle Cards were created to spark your intuition and take your card reading skills to the next level. They’re designed to feel welcoming, supportive, and intuitive — whether you’re just beginning or deepening your spiritual practice. Each card offers guidance that feels gentle yet meaningful, helping you trust your intuition without second-guessing yourself.

If you find yourself returning to the same deck again and again, that’s a sign you’ve found the right one. Over time, your connection will deepen, and the messages will feel increasingly personal. Choosing an oracle deck isn’t about perfection — it’s about resonance. When the connection feels right, you’ll know.

When and Why to Use Oracle Cards

How To Read Oracle Cards
Stare at the images on the cards and listen to your intuition – 6th Sense Connection Oracle cards.

Oracle cards can be used anytime you feel called. Many people use them:

  • In the morning to set the tone for the day
  • During emotional or spiritual transitions
  • When seeking clarity or reassurance
  • During moon phases or reflective moments

As you continue working with oracle cards, they naturally become part of your daily rhythm—quietly supporting your awareness and intuition.

How to Use Oracle Cards Intuitively

Creating a sacred space is a beautiful part of using Oracle cards. Light a candle, breathe deeply, and ground yourself before you begin. This helps you tune into your intuition and inner wisdom and connect with the messages waiting to come through. Even a few moments of calm can shift your energy and amplify your clarity when doing readings. 

Before beginning a reading, take a moment to pause.

Breathe slowly.
Let your shoulders relax.
Bring your awareness inward.

You don’t need a ritual unless it feels supportive. Simply being present is enough.

Ask a Question

A key to using Oracle cards effectively is asking the right kind of question. Keep it open-ended and curious: “What do I need to know right now?” or “What energy is supporting me today?” When you’re learning how to use Oracle cards, the questions you ask shape the depth of the insight you’ll receive.

Shuffling Your Cards

You can shuffle your oracle cards in any way that feels natural. There is no correct method. As you shuffle, gently focus on your question or intention. Your intuition will guide you to the right moment to stop shuffling the cards. Many people find that this moment—the draw—is where the magic of Oracle cards truly begins.

Drawing the Cards

Draw one card or several, trust your intuition. The cards you choose are never random. They reflect your current energy and the message you want to convey.

Before opening the guidebook, sit with the imagery. Notice:

  • What catches your attention
  • What emotions arise
  • What memories or sensations appear

This moment of stillness strengthens your intuitive awareness.

If you’re wondering what kind of oracle card reader you are, your intuition may already be guiding you on how to use oracle cards. Take our gentle quiz and discover your unique reading style, natural strengths, and intuitive gifts. Take the Oracle Card Reader Quiz here and perhaps explore our other psychic quizzes.

What Is Your Spiritual IQ

How to Interpret Oracle Cards with Confidence

Interpreting oracle cards isn’t about getting it “right.” It’s about listening.

Pay attention to:

  • The imagery that draws your eye
  • The emotions that surface
  • The thoughts that arise spontaneously

Your first impression is often the most honest.

Interpret the Message

Once you’ve drawn your card, look at the imagery. Read the guidebook if you like. But above all, trust what you feel. When uncovering the meaning of Oracle cards, the message is not just in the words—it’s in the symbols, the energy, and the way your body responds.

Reflect and Integrate

Journaling and reflection are beautiful practices that support your oracle reading practice. Take a few minutes to write down the message you received, your emotional response, and how it applies to your life. Over time, this deepens your relationship with the deck and refines your understanding of using Oracle cards as a spiritual practice.

Pick a Card Free Oracle Reading

Why not try how to use oracle cards now and discover how easily you can connect with your intuition, gain clarity, and receive guidance that feels natural, supportive, and deeply personal? You can try one of our free pick-a-card readings now and focus on your question. What does Spirit want me to know now?

Cleansing Your Oracle Cards

Cleansing your cards with Sage
A sage sticks smoke cleanses the energy!

Cleansing your oracle cards after each session helps clear residual energy and keeps your connection fresh. There’s no single right way to do this—only what feels aligned for you.

Common cleansing methods include:

  • Smoke cleansing, known as smudging. Here’s where you can find out more about smudging
  • Crystals, such as selenite or clear quartz, are placed on or near the deck
  • Sound, like bells, chimes, or singing bowls
  • Putting them back in order is a great way to clear the engery

Some people cleanse before every reading, while others cleanse only when the energy feels heavy. Trust your intuition, it will guide you.

Frequently Asked Questions: How to Use Oracle Cards

Below are some of the most common questions people ask when learning how to use oracle cards, answered with clarity, intuition, and gentle guidance.

 

Do I have to be psychic to use oracle cards

No, you don’t need to be psychic to use oracle cards. Everyone has intuition, and oracle cards help you tune into it. With gentle practice, your confidence grows, and messages become easier to understand.

What’s The Difference Between Tarot and Oracle Cards

Oracle cards are free-flowing, unlike tarot, which follows a structured system of 78 cards with fixed meanings. Oracle cards are more fluid and intuitive. Each oracle deck is unique—different themes, card counts, and messages—making them perfect for anyone exploring Oracle cards. 

How do I start using my oracle cards?

Start by creating a calm space. Center yourself, ask an open-ended question, shuffle your deck, and draw a card. Look at the imagery, read any guidebook interpretations, and trust your intuition. Over time, your practice will become more natural and powerful.

Do I need to be psychic to use oracle cards?

Not at all! Working with Oracle cards is about tuning into your own inner wisdom, not predicting the future. Anyone can use them. With practice, your intuition will grow stronger, and you’ll learn to read the cards in ways that resonate deeply with your unique energy.

How often should I use oracle cards?

You can use them as often as you feel called. Many people begin with a daily card pull to set the tone for their day. Others use them during significant life transitions, emotional challenges, or moon rituals. Trust your rhythm—there’s no wrong way to use them.

What kind of questions should I ask?

When exploring Oracle cards, your questions should be open-ended and reflective. Ask things like, “What do I need to focus on today?” or “What is being revealed to me in this moment?” This allows the cards to offer layered insight and supports your spiritual growth.

Do I need a special ritual every time I use my oracle cards?

No formal ritual is required to learn Oracle cards, but setting an intentional space can help. Many people light a candle, play soft music, or take a few breaths before drawing a card. What matters most is that you’re present and open.

Can I read oracle cards for other people?

Yes! Once you’re comfortable with using Oracle cards, you can absolutely read for others. Just be sure to create a respectful, sacred space and keep your focus on offering insight, not control. Always ask for permission before reading for someone else.

What if I draw a card I don’t understand?

That’s part of the journey. When discovering Oracle cards, you’ll occasionally receive a confusing card. Sit with it. Look at the imagery. Sometimes the meaning unfolds later in the day, or shows up in unexpected ways, and this helps you create your intuitive meanings.  

Is there a course that I can learn to read Oracle cards

The Oracle Mastery bundle is available and includes videos, cards, and the book Divination 101.

The Magic Is Within You

At the heart of learning how to use Oracle cards is a simple truth: the magic isn’t in the cards — it’s in you. Oracle cards are mirrors, reflecting your inner wisdom and helping you trust what you already know.

Pick up your deck. Ask the question. Begin the conversation.
The cards are ready — and so are you.

If this resonated with you, please pass it along to someone who may find it helpful.

Anne-Marie
Anne-Marie

Anne-Marie has been reading Tarot and oracle cards since the 1980s, guided by Spirit, intuition, and compassion. She is a psychic medium, the award-winning author of Divination 101, and the creator of the award-winning 6th Sense Connection Oracle Cards, offering gentle, grounded guidance to help people find clarity, reassurance, and trust in their own inner knowing.

Articles: 163

Leave a Reply

0

Subtotal