Is it ‘cheating’ to start with oracle cards? Local tarot reader told me I should master tarot first and oracle is for people who don’t want to do the real work. This doesn’t feel right since I see so many gifts tarot readers using Oracle all the time. Sounded a bit bitter to me.
I’ve read the oracle cards vs Tarot thread and I think I like both, but which would you suggest for a beginner to reading either?
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That reader sounds like they’re projecting their own insecurities. Stay far away because they’re doing you no good. I’ve been reading professionally for years and use both Oracle and Tarot depending on what the situation calls for.
Oracle cards aren’t cheating - they’re just a different tool. What they said to you is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard someone say about Tarot… and that’s a long list.
Some of the most skilled readers I know started with Oracle because it let them build confidence without getting bogged down in memorization. You can actually start doing meaningful readings right away instead of spending months studying before you feel ready.
The whole “real work” comment is classic gatekeeping. Tarot has this 78-card structure that stays the same across decks, which some people love. Oracle decks are all different - could be 30 cards, could be 100, each with its own vibe. Neither is better, they just work differently.
If you’re drawn to both, get one of each and see what clicks. Most of us end up using both anyway. Oracle for daily pulls and gentle guidance, Tarot when you want to dig deeper into psychological patterns. Your local reader probably just invested a lot of time learning Tarot and wants to justify that investment.
Personally, if I started again, I would probably start with one of the beginner’s Oracle decks from this thread.
One of the many Tarot questions that warrants the “.. it depends” answer. Annoying, I know, but hear me out.
What are you looking for in your readings? Self-reflection or more like decision-making and timing? And do you prefer poetic imagery or structured symbols?
I use both depending on what I need. When I’m planning stuff, I’ll use tarot for the structure, then pull one oracle card for the vibe. You should experiment with both if you can and let the deck pick you, not the other way around. There are some fantastic Oracle readers who get poor results with the Tarot and vice versa.
Don’t force it.
I think oracle and tarot both tap into your intuition anyway. Oracle cards tend to be more straightforward with their messages, while tarot has all those symbols and traditional meanings to learn.
Side note: beginners worry way too much about picking the ‘right’ deck. The cards are just tools, what matters is what comes up in your head when you look at them. Just pick whatever deck you like looking at. I don’t personally think you’ll find one easier or more detailed than the other, so pick the one you actually enjoy working with.
That’s usually the biggest hurdle beginners will face anyway. Once you get beyond the initial excitement of the shiny new flashy toy you’re faced with the difficult part of actually learning and this is where you want to work with the deck you enjoy.
Trust me on this. I’ve made that mistake and I’ve watched a lot of beginners come and go over the years do the same thing.
For me, tarot’s built-in structure. The suits and majors, along with that Fool-to-World arc, feel like a complete system.
Oracle decks can be lovely, but they usually don’t have the same pattern. Working with those old numbers makes me feel connected to readers who came before, and Oracle decks feel too light and shallow compared to the depth of the Tarot.
As others have said, though, this is a very personal choice, so YMMV.
Oracle decks are easy to start with. The messages are direct and the art is usually easy to read. Tarot is a set system with 78 cards and a lot of symbolism, so it takes more study. I journal a lot. Oracle cards work well for quick daily pulls and reflection prompts, and tarot is what I use when I want more detail.
There’s no ‘cheating’ in mixing them. Plenty of readers use both. All of the sensible ones do. Pick the deck that grabs you. If an oracle deck pulls you in, start there. You can add tarot later, or the other way around. That’s just what’s worked for me.
Oracle and tarot feel different to use. Oracle is looser and good for day-to-day nudges. Tarot is more structured. You don’t need to learn one before the other.
I started with an oracle deck while I was meditating more, then got into tarot. That earlier practice made it easier to connect with the tarot archetypes. If a local reader says there’s only one right order, that’s gatekeeping. Pick the deck that interests you. That’s what I did.
I started with oracle cards. They were easier for me since they usually have keywords printed on them.
Tarot is great too though. I have a deck now and do most of my readings with it since that’s what I’m drawn to most. The learning curve is definitely steeper, at least that’s what I found. There are Tarot cards with the meanings printed on the actual card now as well, so maybe that would have the exact same result.
Oracle cards are easier for beginners since most have keywords or messages printed on them. You can just shuffle, pull a card, and get a reading without studying anything beforehand. Tarot means learning 78 different cards and what they all mean, which takes time. Some newer tarot decks do include keywords though, which helps. Some are way too simplified but whatever works.
Your local reader sounds like they’re just being snobby. Starting with oracle cards is fine - lots of people do it to get comfortable before diving into tarot. Professional readers use both all the time since they do different things. If you want to try both, just get a beginner tarot deck and an oracle deck you like. You can do daily oracle pulls while you learn tarot on the side. There’s no rule about which one you have to learn first.
Whatever deck calls to you is the right place to start. Some people like the structure of tarot, others prefer oracle cards. Neither is cheating and both can help with intuitive practice.
Just grab whichever deck you’re drawn to and try it out. You might end up collecting both types eventually, fair warning, it can get addictive. If a deck feels right when you hold it, that’s probably your answer.
I started with oracle decks because I got stuck trying to memorize all the tarot meanings. It was too much.
Oracle cards were easier for me since I could just look at them and see what came up. Both types work fine, just pick whatever deck you actually want to use.
That reader sounds pretty uptight about it. Not everyone has to do things the same way.
I’m so tired of the ‘oracle cards aren’t real divination’ crowd acting like they’re the tarot police!
These are usually the same people who insist you MUST cleanse your deck with sage under a full moon while chanting in Latin or whatever. Oracle decks have been used for divination since before tarot even existed, look at Lenormand cards from the 1800s! Your local reader sounds like they just don’t want people finding easier ways to do the same thing.
I’ve found tarot cards are like that honest friend who tells you what you need to hear even when it stings. Oracle decks feel more like gentle encouragement from someone who believes in you.
When teaching beginners, those who start with oracle develop confidence faster because they’re not overwhelmed by structured meanings. Then they can switch to tarot’s deeper psychological work. Both work fine, just depends on your preference.
No judgment, but sometimes beginners find tarot meanings feel buried under layers of symbolism while oracle cards are just more straightforward. Maybe that’s why that reader’s ‘master tarot first’ rule feels off to you.
I started with tarot myself and while I love the depth, I sometimes wonder if oracle cards would have given me confidence faster. I still second-guess whether the Three of Swords means heartbreak or necessary truth-cutting in each reading.
Oracle decks were how I got into card reading too. Found them way easier to learn than tarot - less pressure to memorize meanings and you can just go with what feels right.
Go with the deck that feels right to you.
There’s no set order. Some people start with oracle and later try tarot; others begin with tarot. If an oracle deck is pulling you in, start there. If it’s a tarot deck, use that. Go with what you actually want to pick up.
I think oracle cards are sort of like ready to use straight away? While tarot seems to be this whole intricate system (I read somewhere it’s based on neoplatonic philosophy?).
From what I understand, tarot might take longer to really grasp because there’s so much depth to it. Maybe starting with the major arcana could help, since there are only 22 cards? And then working through the minor arcana in groups, like studying all the aces together to see their patterns, then all the twos, and so on…
I definitely don’t think oracle is ‘cheating’ though! It just seems like a different path. Some people might prefer diving deep into tarot’s structured system while others connect better with oracle’s more flexible approach. Both seem valid to me.
Hope this helps a little! I’m still figuring all this out myself, but that’s what I’ve gathered so far.
Starting with oracle when you want to learn tarot is like practicing watercolors before oils. They’re both painting but different techniques
Oracle decks taught me to trust my intuition without the pressure of memorizing 78 card meanings, which actually made tarot easier when I finally picked it up
That reader sounds like they’re confusing tradition with gatekeeping tbh
Just grab whichever deck you like and start pulling cards
The weird part is when readers act like tarot meanings are set in stone. I’ve seen people literally argue about whether Death means transformation or endings, as if a card can’t mean different things to different readers or in different contexts.
Oracle cards helped me get away from that kind of thinking. With them I just go with what feels right instead of trying to remember what some book says.