What are Oracle Cards? Oracle cards are intuitive tools used for guidance, reflection, and spiritual insight. They help you tune into your inner wisdom, gain clarity, and explore situations with greater awareness, without rigid rules or complicated systems.
Unlike tarot, oracle cards offer a flexible, open-ended approach to intuitive readings. Whether you’re navigating a life decision, seeking daily guidance, or deepening your spiritual practice, oracle cards provide messages that meet you where you are.
This guide explains what oracle cards are, how they work, and how to use them confidently for intuitive and psychic readings.
What Are Oracle Cards?
What are oracle cards? Oracle cards are a form of intuitive divination used to offer guidance through imagery, symbolism, and clear, meaningful messages. Each card carries a theme, concept, or energetic prompt designed to spark insight, self-reflection, and intuitive awareness, rather than predict fixed outcomes.
Unlike tarot cards, oracle decks do not follow a strict structure. There are no suits, Major Arcana, or required layouts to memorise. This flexibility allows oracle cards to be read intuitively, making them accessible for beginners while still offering depth for experienced readers.
Oracle card decks vary widely in size, style, and purpose. Some are created for spiritual encouragement and daily guidance, while others are designed to support deeper intuitive or psychic readings. This adaptability is one of the reasons oracle cards are often chosen by those seeking personal insight, emotional clarity, and spiritual guidance.
How Oracle Cards Are Different from Tarot Cards
When people ask what are oracle cards, one of the most common follow-up questions is how they differ from tarot cards. While both are intuitive tools and are often used together, they serve distinct purposes within spiritual and psychic readings.
Tarot cards follow a traditional system with a fixed structure, defined meanings, and a clear progression. With suits, Major Arcana, and established interpretations, tarot is ideal for exploring patterns, influences, and how a situation may unfold over time.
Oracle cards, by contrast, are more fluid and intuitive. They focus on themes, emotions, and guidance rather than structured outcomes or timelines. Because oracle decks are not bound by a specific system, each reading can be shaped by the reader’s intuition and the energy of the moment.
Oracle cards are often easier for beginners because they:
- Require less memorisation
- Encourage intuitive interpretation over rigid meanings
- Adapt easily to different reading styles and questions
Many experienced readers, and sometimes professional readers like me, choose to use oracle cards on their own or alongside tarot cards, depending on the type of insight needed. Tarot offers structure and depth, while oracle cards add clarity, emotional context, and intuitive flow.
When answering the question what are oracle cards and how do you use them. Oracle cards are especially useful when the focus is on emotional understanding, spiritual support, or intuitive guidance, situations where reflection and self-trust matter more than prediction or rigid interpretation.
Types of Oracle Card Decks
When exploring what are oracle cards, it helps to understand that oracle decks are not all created for the same purpose. While styles and themes vary widely, most oracle card decks fall into two broad categories, depending on how they’re designed to be used.
Inspirational Oracle Decks
Inspirational oracle decks are created to offer uplifting, reflective, or supportive messages. They are commonly used for daily guidance, emotional reassurance, or mindset work, making them especially popular with beginners.
These decks often work well for:
- Morning or evening check-ins
- Spiritual journaling or reflection
- Emotional encouragement during challenging times
- Building trust in intuitive awareness
Because the messages are usually direct and easy to interpret, inspirational oracle cards are an accessible entry point for anyone learning how to use oracle cards intuitively.
Intuitive & Reading-Focused Oracle Decks
Some oracle decks are designed specifically for in-depth intuitive or psychic readings. These decks typically include layered symbolism, clear keywords, and broader themes that allow readers to explore complex topics such as relationships, life direction, emotional patterns, and spiritual growth.
These oracle card decks are often used:
- On their own for full readings
- Alongside tarot cards to add clarity or confirmation
- By experienced readers who want depth without rigid structure
The 6th Sense Connection Oracle Cards, for example, are a 52-card oracle deck created for intuitive and psychic readings. They were field-tested by professional readers before being published in the USA in 2020 and are designed to work seamlessly either alone or in combination with tarot cards.
Understanding the different types of oracle cards can help you choose a deck that aligns with your intention, reading style, and level of experience.
When exploring what are oracle cards and how they’re used, their role in psychic and intuitive readings stands out. Oracle cards help bridge conscious awareness and inner knowing, allowing subtle insights to surface in a clear, supportive way.
Rather than predicting fixed outcomes, oracle cards work with energy and awareness. They highlight themes, emotional patterns, and influences that may not yet be fully recognised, helping you respond with clarity instead of fear or pressure.
In psychic and intuitive readings, oracle cards can:
- Highlight unseen influences or underlying energies
- Encourage emotional and spiritual reflection
- Strengthen trust in intuitive impressions and first insights
- Validate inner feelings, sensations, or recurring thoughts
Because oracle cards focus on guidance rather than certainty, they empower you to make informed, self-directed choices. This is why many readers use oracle cards alongside tarot cards, tarot offers structure, while oracle cards provide intuitive clarity and emotional context.
Oracle cards are especially helpful when readings are focused on personal growth, spiritual support, or emotional understanding rather than outcome-driven questions.
Choosing the Right Oracle Deck
Selecting an oracle deck is a personal process. Consider the following:
- Intention: What do you want guidance on, emotions, spirituality, life direction, or everyday clarity?
- Artwork: Choose imagery that resonates emotionally. Visual connection matters.
- Guidebook: A supportive guidebook can help you build confidence, especially when starting out.
- Intuition: Often, the right deck is the one you feel drawn to without explanation.
There is no “best” oracle deck — only the one that works best for you.
How to Do an Oracle Card Reading
When learning what are oracle cards and how to work with them confidently, it helps to remember that oracle card readings are meant to be simple, flexible, and intuitive. There is no single “correct” way to read oracle cards, the process adapts to your intention, energy, and level of experience.
Below is a gentle, repeatable approach that works for beginners and experienced readers alike.
Step 1: Prepare
Choose a quiet, comfortable space where you won’t be interrupted. Take a few slow breaths and set a clear intention or question for your oracle card reading. This could be something specific, or as simple as asking for guidance or clarity.
Creating a calm moment helps shift your focus inward and prepares you to receive intuitive insight.
Step 2: Shuffle
Hold the oracle deck and shuffle in any way that feels natural to you. As you shuffle, keep your intention in mind. Some people shuffle until a card feels “ready,” while others shuffle for a set amount of time. There is no right or wrong approach, trust what feels comfortable.
Step 3: Draw
When you feel ready, draw one or more cards from the deck. Trust that the cards you pull are relevant to your current energy or situation. Oracle cards work through awareness and timing, not chance.
You may choose a single card for guidance or multiple cards for deeper insight.
Step 4: Interpret
Begin by observing the imagery, keywords, and symbols on the card. Notice any emotions, thoughts, or intuitive impressions that arise. If your deck includes a guidebook, you can refer to it for additional context — but always allow your intuition to lead the interpretation.
Oracle cards are designed to support personal meaning, not override it.
Step 5: Reflect
Take a moment to reflect on how the message applies to your life right now. Ask yourself what awareness, shift, or action the card is inviting. Oracle card readings are most effective when they’re used as tools for reflection and conscious choice rather than prediction.
Simple Oracle Card Spreads to Strengthen Intuition
When learning what are oracle cards and how to use them effectively, simple spreads are one of the best ways to build confidence and strengthen intuition. Oracle card spreads don’t need to be complicated to be powerful, clarity often comes from focused, intentional layouts.
One-Card Daily Draw
Ask: What energy do I need to be aware of today?
This is the simplest and most effective way to work with oracle cards. A single card offers immediate insight into the tone, theme, or lesson influencing your day.
Best for:
- Daily guidance and spiritual check-ins
- Developing intuitive awareness
- Journaling or reflection practices
Many people use this spread as part of a morning or evening ritual to stay connected to their intuition.
Three-Card Spread (Past / Present / Future)
This classic oracle card spread helps you understand how energy has shifted over time.
- Past: What has shaped the current situation
- Present: What energy is active right now
- Future: The likely direction if nothing changes
Rather than predicting outcomes, this spread highlights patterns and influences, making it ideal for gaining perspective on relationships, decisions, or emotional cycles. Try a Pick a Card reading: What does Spirit want me to know?
Five-Card Spread for Deeper Insight
When you want more depth, a five-card oracle spread allows for a fuller story to emerge. It’s commonly used for questions around love, career, life purpose, or spiritual direction.
Typical positions include:
- The core issue
- Your energy or role
- External influences
- Guidance or next steps
- Likely direction based on current energy
This spread works well with oracle cards designed for intuitive readings, especially those with layered symbolism and keywords.
Oracle card spreads are flexible by nature. You can adapt positions, rename meanings, or create custom layouts based on what feels intuitive in the moment. This adaptability is one of the reasons oracle cards are so effective for personal insight and spiritual guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions: What Are Oracle Cards
These frequently asked questions offer gentle clarity for anyone exploring oracle cards and intuitive guidance.
What are oracle cards used for?
Oracle cards are used for intuitive guidance, self-reflection, and spiritual insight. When people ask what are oracle cards, they’re often seeking tools that help them understand emotions, patterns, and personal direction rather than predict fixed outcomes.
Are oracle cards safe to use?
Yes. Oracle cards are safe to use and are designed to support awareness, reflection, and intuitive understanding. They do not control decisions or predict the future — they help individuals explore insight and perspective.
Can beginners use oracle cards?
Absolutely. Oracle cards are beginner-friendly because they don’t require memorising complex systems. Their flexible structure makes them ideal for anyone learning how to use oracle cards intuitively.
How often should I use oracle cards?
You can use oracle cards as often as feels helpful. Some people draw a card daily for guidance, while others use oracle cards during moments of reflection or when clarity is needed.
What’s the difference between oracle cards and tarot cards?
Oracle cards are flexible and intuitive, focusing on themes and guidance, while tarot cards follow a structured system with defined meanings and progression. Many readers use both together for balanced insight.
Do oracle cards work for psychic readings?
Oracle cards are commonly used in psychic and intuitive readings because they help highlight emotional patterns, intuitive impressions, and spiritual themes without relying on rigid interpretation.
How do I start using oracle cards?
A simple way to begin is by asking a clear question, shuffling the deck, and drawing one card. Many people start with a daily draw or a Pick a Card reading such as “What does Spirit want me to know?” to build confidence.
Final Thoughts
Oracle cards are powerful tools for intuitive insight, reflection, and spiritual connection. They don’t replace your intuition — they strengthen it.
By choosing a deck that resonates with you and practising regularly, oracle cards can become a trusted companion for clarity, empowerment, and self-trust.
