Oracle

Oracle is a divination tool that takes the form of cards that communicate through images, symbols, and words. They can give insights to relationships, careers, spirituality, and personal growth. These cards can also be used as a form of communication from Spirit Guides, Ancestors, and the Higher Self. If you would like to learn more about communication with them you can view our article dedicated to it here in Seeking Guidance. These cards can also be used for self-reflection and connecting with your intuition. 

An Oracle Deck has no specific set number of cards, this means that you could have one deck that has a ton of cards and then another that has significantly less. The cards are meant to convey specific energies, archetypes, and concepts. It does this through varying themes like nature, angels, animals, spiritual symbols, or abstract representations. The artwork depicted on these cards serve as a visual trigger for intuition and stimulates the subconscious mind. When using an Oracle Deck the reader is able to rely on their intuition to interpret the meaning of the cards that are drawn. This can be slightly easier than Tarot for someone who is just starting to develop their intuition. This comes from how some of the cards contain words and phrases. If you would like to learn more about Tarot you can view our article dedicated to it here in Tradition of Tarot. 

Each of these decks foster a personal connection between the user and the cards. This is because of how each deck has its own energy, vibe, and style. Deeply connecting with your deck can make interpreting the cards much easier for the reader. Oracle cards can be used in many different ways, you can draw out one of the cards for daily inspiration or you can draw out multiple in a spread for a more comprehensive reading. A spread in regards to Oracle is when you create a layout and have certain positions to put cards into, assigning each position to a specific question or relating it to part of your life. This allows us to see fresh perspectives, encouragement, validation, and helps us face situations with confidence.

To begin, you are going to need to choose an Oracle Deck that calls out to you and cleanse it before use. This can be done through sage, incense, visualization, and singing bowls.

Next you are going to want to set an intention for the reading, this helps you focus on your energy and open up your mind to receive the guidance you are seeking. It is a good idea to create a sacred space for the reading in a place you will not be disrupted if possible. Lighting candles or incense during the reading can help keep you in the right headspace. 

Now it is time to shuffle the cards. Do this in a way that is comfortable to you, some examples could be overhand, riffle, or spreading the cards on a table and mixing them up. Once you feel that everything is mixed well, you can begin to draw your card or cards. If you do not have a specific question in mind you can do a general reading for the day. 

When you have a card that was drawn out of the deck, pay attention to things like imagery, symbols, colors, and any words that are on the card. Observing these things can help guide your intuition when interpreting the card. While interpreting try and relate it back to your question or situation. It would be a good idea to keep track of your readings especially if you are asking questions of things that could be coming into your life sometime in the future, this way you can look back on the readings and reflect. A journal is also just a good way to keep track of your progress so you can see how far you’ve come in your spiritual journey. If you are interested in learning more about journaling and journal prompts you can view our article all about it in Journaling. 

Now that you know the basics of Oracle you can continue drawing and interpreting cards as you please. Remember it is good to experiment with methods and approaches to find what works best for you!