What is the difference between tarot cards and oracle cards? Which deck is easier for beginners? Can you use tarot and oracle cards together—and how do you choose the right deck for your spiritual practice?

In this fun and beginner-friendly episode, Bertena explains the differences between tarot and oracle cards without making either practice feel complicated or intimidating.

Tarot and oracle cards can both support intuition, spiritual growth, self-reflection, journaling, and personal guidance, but they do not follow the same system.

A traditional tarot deck contains 78 cards divided into the Major Arcana and Minor Arcana. Tarot follows a recognizable structure that includes four suits, numbered cards, and court cards. Because the cards belong to a shared system, tarot can offer a detailed look at relationships, decisions, challenges, repeating patterns, and possible next steps.

Oracle decks have much more freedom. There is no required number of cards or universal oracle-card structure. Each creator chooses the deck’s theme, artwork, messages, and method of interpretation. Oracle cards may focus on goddesses, angels, ancestors, animals, affirmations, moon cycles, chakras, healing, shadow work, or another spiritual subject.

If tarot is a language with its own grammar, every oracle deck is an individual conversation.

In this episode, Bertena explains why oracle cards may feel easier when you are beginning, how tarot becomes easier once you recognize its patterns, and why you do not have to choose only one.

In This Episode You Will Learn

• The main differences between tarot and oracle cards
• Why traditional tarot decks contain 78 cards
• How the Major Arcana and Minor Arcana work
• Why oracle decks do not follow one universal structure
• Whether tarot or oracle cards are easier for beginners
• How to choose your first tarot or oracle deck
• How to ask better questions during a card reading
• How to combine tarot and oracle cards in the same reading
• How to begin reading cards without memorizing every meaning
• Whether you need to use reversed tarot cards
• Why you do not have to receive your first deck as a gift
• Simple ways to connect with your intuition
• How to use cards without surrendering your judgment or personal power

Bertena also guides you through a simple card-reading practice you can try during the episode.

If you are using an oracle deck, you will pull one card and explore its message, imagery, and connection to your life.

If you are using tarot, you will pull three cards representing:

1. What you already know
2. What you may not be seeing clearly
3. One helpful next step

You do not have to produce a perfect interpretation. Begin by noticing the colors, people, symbols, emotions, and movement within the card. Your honest first response can be just as valuable as the meaning in the guidebook.

Can Tarot and Oracle Cards Be Used Together?

Yes. Tarot and oracle cards can work beautifully together.

You might begin with one oracle card to reveal the main spiritual theme of your reading. You can then pull tarot cards to explore the situation, challenge, and next step in greater detail. Finish with another oracle card for encouragement, reflection, or a closing message.

Think of the oracle card as the title of the chapter and the tarot cards as the pages that explain the story.

Learn Tarot and Oracle with Bertena

If you are ready to explore tarot and oracle cards in a welcoming and practical environment, join Bertena for her upcoming in-person class on October 11.

Bertena also offers live Zoom classes for students who want to learn from home and online courses for those who prefer to study at their own pace.

These classes are designed for beginners, returning students, intuitive readers, and anyone who wants to build confidence while developing a deeper relationship with the cards.

Visit Bertena.org to explore current classes and registration information.

While you are there, sign up for Bertena’s newsletter to receive announcements about upcoming tarot and oracle classes, Zoom gatherings, online courses, podcast episodes, spiritual teachings, and special events.

Subscribe to the podcast and share this episode with someone who owns a deck—or someone standing in front of an entire wall of decks wondering which one to choose.

Episode Keywords

tarot vs oracle cards, difference between tarot and oracle cards, tarot cards for beginners, oracle cards for beginners, how to read tarot cards, how to read oracle cards, tarot and oracle reading, tarot deck meanings, oracle deck meanings, beginner tarot reading, choosing your first tarot deck, choosing an oracle deck, Major Arcana, Minor Arcana, tarot card suits, intuitive card reading, spiritual card reading, tarot classes, oracle card classes, online tarot course, Zoom tarot class, tarot and oracle workshop, develop your intuition, divination for beginners, Bertena

Opening hook

Opening music begins and lowers beneath Bertena's voice.

BERTENA If tarot and oracle decks walked into a party, tarot would arrive with seventy-eight relatives, a detailed family history, four very organized cousins named Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles, and at least one mysterious aunt called The High Priestess. Oracle would arrive whenever it felt like it, wearing something fabulous, carrying anywhere from thirty to sixty cards, and saying, 'I brought you one message. Are you ready to hear it?'

BERTENA That is the difference in one very dramatic little picture. Tarot has a recognizable structure. Oracle makes its own rules. Both can be insightful. Both can be beautiful. Both can also call you out when you were hoping the cards would simply agree with the decision you already made.

BERTENA Welcome, everyone. I am Bertena, and today we are answering one of the questions I hear all the time: What is the difference between tarot cards and oracle cards? Which one is easier? Which one is better for beginners? Can you use them together? And perhaps the most important question: Why does the deck sometimes give you the exact card you did not want to see?

Pause for a small laugh. Opening music fades out.

BERTENA Whether you own twenty decks, one deck, or you are standing in a spiritual shop staring at an entire wall of cards while quietly panicking, this episode is for you. By the end, you will understand how tarot and oracle work, how they differ, and how to decide which one fits your reading style.

What tarot is

BERTENA Let us begin with tarot. A traditional tarot deck has seventy-eight cards. Those cards are divided into two main groups: the Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana. The Major Arcana contains twenty-two cards representing larger themes, turning points, archetypes, and life lessons. These are cards such as The Fool, The Magician, The Hermit, Death, The Tower, The Star, and The World.

BERTENA Now, before someone hears Death and drops the whole deck on the floor, the Death card usually points to transition, release, and the ending of one chapter so another can begin. Tarot is full of symbolism. The picture can look dramatic while the message is much more practical.

BERTENA The remaining fifty-six cards form the Minor Arcana. They are divided into four suits. Different decks may rename the suits, but many use Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles. Wands often relate to passion, creativity, action, and spiritual fire. Cups often relate to emotions, relationships, intuition, and connection. Swords often point to thoughts, communication, decisions, and conflict. Pentacles often relate to the physical world, including work, money, health, home, and the body.

BERTENA Each suit includes numbered cards and court cards. The court cards are commonly Page, Knight, Queen, and King, although modern decks sometimes use different titles. The exact artwork and interpretation can change, but the underlying structure stays recognizable from one tarot deck to another.

BERTENA That shared structure is one of tarot's greatest strengths. Once you learn the basic system, you can pick up many different tarot decks and find your way around. It may feel like walking into a house where the furniture has changed but the rooms are still in familiar places.

What oracle is

BERTENA Oracle decks are different because they do not have one required structure. An oracle deck can have thirty cards, forty-four cards, fifty-two cards, or another number chosen by its creator. It may focus on goddesses, angels, animals, ancestors, affirmations, moon cycles, chakras, plants, shadow work, healing, or almost any spiritual theme.

BERTENA One oracle deck may place a complete message on every card. Another may use a single word and ask you to rely on the artwork and your intuition. Some decks have guidebooks with several pages for each card. Others offer a short paragraph. The creator decides how the system works.

BERTENA If tarot is a language with grammar, oracle is a collection of individual conversations. Every oracle deck has its own voice. One may feel gentle and encouraging. Another may be blunt. One deck may tell you to rest. Another may look directly into your spiritual business and say, 'We have discussed this boundary before.'

BERTENA That freedom is one of the reasons oracle cards are popular with beginners. You do not have to memorize a seventy-eight-card system before you begin. You can pull one card, read the message, notice the image, and ask what it brings up for you.

The clearest differences

BERTENA Here is the simplest way to remember the difference. Tarot follows a shared structure. Oracle follows the structure created for that specific deck.

BERTENA Tarot tends to provide layers. A reading can show different people, pressures, choices, emotions, obstacles, and possible outcomes. Because the cards relate to one another inside a common system, tarot is especially helpful when you want to examine a situation in depth.

BERTENA Oracle often gives you a theme, a spiritual focus, an affirmation, or a direct message. It can be wonderful for a daily check-in, meditation, journaling prompt, altar card, or closing message at the end of a reading.

BERTENA That does not mean tarot is always complicated or oracle is always simple. You can pull one tarot card and receive a clear answer. You can also work with an oracle deck that has a deep, detailed spiritual system. We are talking about general tendencies, not strict rules.

Which deck is easier

BERTENA People often ask me which one is easier. Oracle usually feels easier at the beginning because many oracle cards give you more direct language. If you pull a card called Rest, you probably do not need to schedule an emergency committee meeting to interpret it. The card is asking you to rest.

BERTENA Tarot has a learning curve. You may need time to understand the suits, numbers, court cards, Major Arcana, symbolism, and the way cards change when they appear together. But structure can also make learning easier. Once you see the patterns, tarot becomes less like memorizing seventy-eight separate definitions and more like learning a connected system.

BERTENA Some beginners prefer oracle because it helps them trust their intuition quickly. Others prefer tarot because they like having an established framework. If you enjoy patterns, symbolism, and detailed stories, tarot may feel natural. If you enjoy a focused message and creative freedom, oracle may feel more comfortable. If you enjoy both, welcome to the very real possibility of needing another shelf.

What each deck does well

BERTENA Tarot is especially useful when the question has several moving parts. Imagine that you are thinking about a career change. You could ask tarot what is motivating the change, what fear is holding you back, what strength you can use, what practical step to take, and what energy may develop if you follow that path.

BERTENA Tarot can also reveal patterns. Perhaps every time you ask about the same relationship, cards connected with confusion, avoidance, or unequal effort keep appearing. Tarot does not remove your free will, but it can make the pattern harder to ignore.

BERTENA Oracle is especially useful when you want a central message. You might ask, 'What quality should I embody today?' 'What part of myself needs compassion?' or 'What spiritual lesson is asking for my attention?' An oracle card can give you a theme to carry into meditation, journaling, or daily life.

BERTENA Oracle can also feel supportive when a full tarot spread would be too much. There are days when we are ready for a detailed ten-card examination of our choices. There are also days when we need one card, one message, and perhaps a cup of tea.

The questions matter

BERTENA The quality of your reading often begins with the quality of your question. Questions that invite reflection usually give you more useful information than questions that demand a simple prediction.

BERTENA Instead of asking, 'Will I get the job?' you might ask, 'What can I do to present myself clearly?' 'What should I understand about this opportunity?' or 'What will help me make the best career decision?' Those questions give you something you can work with.

BERTENA Instead of asking, 'Does this person love me?' try asking, 'What is the current energy of this relationship?' 'What am I seeing clearly?' 'What might I be avoiding?' and 'What boundary or conversation would support me?'

BERTENA The cards should not replace your judgment, medical care, legal advice, financial guidance, or an honest conversation. They are tools for reflection and spiritual insight. They can help you notice what is present, explore possibilities, and hear your own intuition more clearly.

Using tarot and oracle together

BERTENA Yes, you can absolutely use tarot and oracle together. In fact, they can work beautifully as a team. I often think of the oracle card as the title of the chapter and the tarot cards as the pages that explain what is happening.

BERTENA You could begin a reading by pulling one oracle card to identify the main theme. Then pull three tarot cards to explore the situation, the challenge, and the next step. At the end, you could pull another oracle card for encouragement or a closing message.

BERTENA For example, imagine that your oracle card says Trust. That sounds lovely, but trust what? Trust whom? Trust yourself, the timing, the process, or the person who has already canceled three times? This is where tarot can add detail. Your tarot cards may show that the lesson is about trusting your own perception and setting a boundary rather than blindly trusting someone else.

BERTENA This is why context matters. A positive-sounding oracle word does not always mean sit back and hope. Trust may ask you to trust yourself enough to act. Surrender may mean releasing control, but it does not mean tolerating harm. Compassion can include compassion for yourself.

A simple listener practice

BERTENA Let us make this practical. If you have a tarot or oracle deck nearby, you can pause and get it. If you do not have one, you can still follow the questions and journal about whatever comes to mind.

Pause briefly.

BERTENA Take one slow breath. Let your shoulders soften. Ask yourself, 'What energy needs my attention today?' If you are using an oracle deck, pull one card. Notice the first word, color, symbol, or feeling that catches your attention before you open the guidebook.

BERTENA Ask yourself: What does this card remind me of? Where is this energy already present in my life? What is one small action connected with this message?

BERTENA If you are using tarot, pull three cards. Let the first represent what you know. Let the second represent what you may not be seeing clearly. Let the third represent one helpful next step.

BERTENA You do not have to produce a perfect interpretation. Begin with what you notice. Who is in the image? Where are they looking? Is the card active or still? Does it feel open, crowded, warm, cold, calm, or tense? Your first honest response matters. Then use the guidebook to add another layer.

Allow a brief pause for listeners who are following the exercise.

BERTENA And please remember this: If you pull a card you do not understand, you have not failed. Put it somewhere visible. Write down what was happening when you pulled it. Meaning often unfolds after the reading.

Common myths

BERTENA Now let us clear up a few myths. First, you do not have to receive your first deck as a gift. If someone gives you a deck, that is wonderful. If you see a deck you love and buy it yourself, the tarot police will not arrive.

BERTENA Second, you do not have to be born psychic to use cards. Reading develops through practice, observation, study, intuition, and reflection. Some people sense messages quickly. Others build confidence slowly. Both are valid.

BERTENA Third, reversed tarot cards are optional. Some readers use them, and some do not. A card can hold challenge, shadow, delay, excess, or imbalance even when it is upright. If reversals help you, use them. If they create more confusion than insight while you are learning, you can begin without them.

BERTENA Fourth, you do not need an elaborate cleansing ritual every time you touch your cards. You may choose to use prayer, Reiki, breath, sound, smoke-free cleansing, moonlight, intention, or another practice that fits your beliefs. You can also simply shuffle, take a breath, and begin.

BERTENA Finally, the cards do not control your future. A reading reflects energy, choices, patterns, and possibilities. You still make decisions. You still have responsibilities. You are a participant in your life, not a passenger waiting for a card to give permission.

Choosing your first deck

BERTENA If you are choosing your first tarot deck, look for clear imagery and a guidebook you can understand. Many beginners benefit from a deck that follows familiar tarot symbolism because books, classes, and other resources will be easier to use.

BERTENA If you are choosing an oracle deck, begin with a subject you genuinely enjoy. Do not buy a deck because someone online says every spiritual person needs it. Look at sample cards if possible. Read a few messages. Ask whether the voice feels supportive, honest, overly vague, or simply not like you.

BERTENA You are allowed to be drawn to the artwork, but make sure the deck is readable for you. A beautiful deck that you never use becomes very expensive shelf decoration. I say this with love and with absolutely no judgment toward anyone currently looking at a shelf full of beautiful decks.

BERTENA Also think about accessibility. Can you comfortably hold and shuffle the cards? Is the text large enough to read? Are the images clear? Is the guidebook useful? Spiritual tools should work with your body and your needs. You do not have to struggle with an oversized deck to prove anything.

Building confidence

BERTENA The best way to learn is to use your cards regularly without turning every pull into a final exam. Pull one card in the morning and write down what you notice. Return to it in the evening and ask how the energy appeared during your day.

BERTENA Practice on questions where you already know the situation. That helps you connect the symbols with real experiences. Keep a journal. Notice which cards repeat. Pay attention to your first impression, but also study the traditional meanings. Intuition and knowledge can support each other.

BERTENA Most importantly, speak to yourself with patience. You are learning a relationship, not memorizing a test. Some cards will feel like old friends. Others will remain mysterious for a while. There is always that one court card that walks into the reading, refuses to explain itself, and leaves you staring at the guidebook. That is part of the process.

Which one should you choose

BERTENA So, should you choose tarot or oracle? Choose tarot if you want a structured system, layered readings, and a practice you can deepen over many years. Choose oracle if you want flexible themes, direct messages, and an easy way to begin listening to your intuition.

BERTENA Choose both if both speak to you. You do not have to declare loyalty to one team. Tarot and oracle are tools, and different tools help with different questions.

BERTENA The most important part is not owning the perfect deck. It is learning to ask honest questions, sit with the answer, and make grounded choices. A deck can open a door, but you are still the person who decides whether to walk through it.

Invitation to learn with Bertena

BERTENA If this conversation has made you curious, I would love to help you explore tarot and oracle in a way that feels welcoming, practical, and connected to your intuition.

BERTENA I have an in-person class coming up on October 11. This is an opportunity to learn in community, ask questions, work directly with the cards, and practice without feeling that you have to know everything before you arrive.

BERTENA If you cannot attend in person, I also offer Zoom classes so you can learn with me live from your own home. And if you need more flexibility, I have online classes you can take at your own pace. Whether you are completely new, returning after time away, or ready to deepen your existing practice, there is a way for you to begin.

BERTENA For current class information, registration links, new podcast episodes, and upcoming spiritual offerings, go to Bertena dot org and sign up for my newsletter. That is the best way to stay connected and make sure you do not miss the October 11 class or future Zoom and online opportunities.

BERTENA Again, visit Bertena dot org and sign up for the newsletter. You can explore the website while you are there and choose the class or offering that feels right for you.

Closing

BERTENA The next time someone asks you the difference between tarot and oracle, you can tell them this: Tarot has a shared seventy-eight-card structure. Oracle creates its own system. Tarot often gives you a detailed map. Oracle often gives you a focused message. Both can help you slow down, reflect, and listen more closely to your own wisdom.

BERTENA Thank you for spending this time with me. If you enjoyed the episode, share it with someone who is standing in front of a wall of card decks and does not know where to begin. Subscribe to the podcast, and remember to visit Bertena dot org and join my newsletter.

BERTENA Until next time, keep asking meaningful questions, keep trusting what you notice, and do not be surprised when the same card appears again because you tried to pretend you did not see it the first time.

Closing music rises and plays out.