The difference between angel cards, tarot cards and oracle cards



Are you curious about the fascinating world of divination cards? There are several types available, with tarot cards, angel cards, and oracle cards being the most popular. Although they share some similarities, each has its unique characteristics and uses. Let’s explore these differences.

Tarot Cards

Tarot cards are steeped in history and tradition. They follow a structured format, and the art of reading them involves specific procedures. A tarot deck usually consists of 78 cards: 22 Major Arcana cards and 56 Minor Arcana cards.

The Major Arcana cards, numbered 0-21, signify major life themes or events. They are the same across all tarot decks and include archetypes like The High Priestess, The Fool, The Emperor, and The Magician. These cards carry considerable weight during readings.

The Minor Arcana cards are further divided into four suits: Cups, Pentacles (or Coins), Wands, and Swords. Each suit has 14 cards (numbered 1-10, along with a King, Queen, Knight, and Page) and is associated with one of the four elements: air, water, fire, and earth. These cards offer insights into daily life aspects, including material matters, emotions, beliefs, and intuition.

While some tarot cards depict darker imagery, they are not to be feared. Each card, including intimidating ones like Death or The Hanged Man, symbolizes different aspects of life and its interpretation is largely up to the reader.

Angel Cards

Angel cards, a subset of oracle cards, come with a more relaxed structure compared to tarot cards. They don’t follow a rigid rule set and can be based on various themes, with angels being the most popular.

Most angel card decks consist of at least 30 to 44 cards, each carrying a specific message. A guidebook often accompanies these decks to aid with interpretations as each card’s meaning can vary depending on the author and illustrator.

Angel cards provide straightforward, empowering, and gentle guidance. They are light, uplifting, and tap into divine angelic assistance. For instance, Archangel Michael’s card often carries the message of courage and protection, while Archangel Raphael’s card is associated with healing and well-being.

Oracle Cards

Like angel cards, oracle cards do not follow a strict structure or rules, making them incredibly diverse in themes, from fairies and flowers to mermaids and angels.

Despite having no Archetypes or suits, oracle card decks usually focus on a certain theme. The interpretation of these cards relies heavily on the reader’s intuition. Oracle card readings are typically more positive, straightforward, and uplifting.

Overall, the type of cards one prefers for divination purposes comes down to personal choice. Tarot cards offer deeper insights and require a greater commitment to understanding their intricate symbolism and structure. On the other hand, angel and other oracle cards provide gentler, more intuitive, and spiritually-guided readings.

Remember, regardless of the type of divination cards you choose, they serve as tools to access your intuition and receive guidance, not as definitive predictors of the future. Whether you’re drawn to the symbolic richness of tarot cards or the intuitive freedom of angel and oracle cards, they all offer unique paths to self-discovery and personal insight.