What’s actually the difference between tarot cards and angel cards?
My friend swears by her angel deck and says it always gives her positive, uplifting messages, while my tarot readings can sometimes be pretty blunt (looking at you, Tower card 
). Is it just that angel cards are more positive, or is there something fundamentally different about how they work?
Also, I noticed angel decks don’t seem to have a standard number of cards like tarot’s 78 - is that right?
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This is where terminology might start getting us confused… I’ve seen companies using “angel cards” as a way to sell Bible quotes on bits of paper but since we’re comparing to the Tarot I’m going to assume that this is the kind of thing you mean (please feel free to correct me).
If this is the case, then really it doesn’t matter which deck you’re asking about because all you need to know is the difference in Oracle and Tarot decks.
Honestly… if you don’t have a reason to choose between one or the other then my advice is there is no difference and they’ll both perform the same task.
I’m sure others will come in and get more into the nitty-gritty and their experiences (we have a lot of talented and knowledgeable people here), but I don’t think it really matters. If you just want to start doing readings, then an oracle deck like these Angel cards will do the same thing as your standard Tarot deck.
Been collecting vintage decks for years. Every spiritual shop I know offers tarot, angel, and oracle readings side by side. They’re just different tools. Some people prefer one over another, some use all three depending on what they’re looking for that day.
When I read for someone, I ask first if they’re cool with angel stuff. Some people are into it, others aren’t, especially depending on their religious background.
So I stick to neutral terms like ‘guides’ unless they specifically want the angel angle. Plus, when someone’s dealing with heavy stuff, all that positivity from angel decks can feel dismissive. What works for me is mixing in a practical tarot card that gives them an actual next step.
Before starting, I just ask if they want gentle support or straight talk today.
Angel decks work well for beginners.
Less pressure than jumping straight into tarot, and the guidebook messages are straightforward enough that students can start trusting their gut feelings. Once they’re comfortable, we switch to tarot where there’s more depth, like noticing patterns across the suits or how cards influence each other based on their elements. Even experienced readers keep both types around.
Angel cards for quick daily guidance, tarot for the messy life questions about work or relationships, where you need all those layers of meaning.
Plus (an extra advantage I wish we didn’t have to think about) is that we get people asking about Tarot cards being demonic. If we’re actually using angel cards it’s easier for people who don’t really understand the Tarot to work with it.
Was at a metaphysical shop last week and ended up watching someone do angel card readings. The reader kept emphasizing that angel cards focus on the present moment, where you are right now, instead of future predictions like tarot does.
She said angel cards give you guidance for today’s issues while tarot warns you about tomorrow’s problems. Never really thought about the difference before. Some days, you probably do just need encouragement instead of knowing every detail about what’s coming.
A Tarot deck is like a wise old grandmother with centuries of stories to tell, while angel and oracle decks are more like that sweet cousin who just says… ‘everything will be okay, hun.’
That’s my experience anyway, not to take away from anyone who works with these cards.
The Tarot has been around since medieval times, packed with symbolism, from the Tower crashing down to the High Priestess keeping her secrets. Oracle cards are usually pretty pictures with affirming messages.
They’re nice for a quick pick-me, up or meditation, and some have beautiful artwork. But honestly, they’re more like fortune cookies compared to Tarot’s full meal.
Tarot has that structured 78-card system with Major and Minor Arcana… It’s like an ancient symbolic language that covers the full spectrum of human experience, including the tough stuff.
Angel cards are more free-form. Each deck creator decides how many cards and what themes.
The energy is different, too.
Tarot will show you what you need to see, even if it stings. Got the 3 of Swords last week and yeah, it wasn’t sugar-coating anything. Angel cards tend to focus on guidance and support - they’re coming from that higher perspective of unconditional love.
Each deck reads differently. The symbols change depending on which one you’re using. Card combinations can mean opposite things in different systems. Fool + Tower might be liberation or destruction, depends on the tradition.
I use both depending on what I need. I think this is the right way in the Tarot.
When I want the raw truth about a situation with my twin, tarot. When I need comfort or to connect with higher guidance during separation, angel cards help me stay centered.
Your friend’s deck probably feels so positive because angel cards are designed to uplift and encourage. They’re not bypassing the difficult stuff, just approaching it from a place of divine support rather than showing you the stark reality like tarot does.
I actually switched to oracle cards (similar to angel cards) after my tarot deck kept giving me the same harsh messages about my twin flame situation. Sometimes you need gentle guidance, not brutal honesty. The angel cards help me stay in a higher vibration when everything feels heavy.
I wouldn’t worry about the card counts too much.
The thing about angel cards is they’re channeled from specific beings or energies - Archangel Michael, Gabriel, etc. Tarot taps into universal archetypes and your own subconscious. Totally different mechanisms. I use angel cards for daily inspiration and tarot for deep dives into trickier topics.
My angel deck has 44 cards, friend’s has 36, another has 54… there’s no standard at all. Each creator channels their own system. Tarot’s consistency across decks means you can learn it once and use any deck, but with angel cards you’re learning that specific creator’s language.
Angel cards are way easier to pick up. You can basically just use the guidebook and go with what feels right. Tarot has all these layers with the court cards and suits that take a while to get the hang of.
Started with angel cards, moved to tarot, now I use both plus oracle decks. Each serves its purpose. Angel cards for connecting with guides, tarot for understanding the human/ego stuff that needs clearing. You don’t have to choose just one system.
Angel cards are not a watered-down version of the Tarot or vice versa, just different tools.
I’m on team… both.
The Tower definitely has its opinions, but I like giving it a friend to balance things out. Angel and oracle decks don’t have a standard card count, most are 44 or 52 cards, but I’ve seen tiny 33-card ones and huge 60+ decks. What I do is use my tarot spread for the main structure, then pull one angel card at the end.
Looking at it mechanically, the deck size and card distribution definitely affect the odds. Tarot’s 78 cards give you more specific meanings compared to angel decks. Most angel decks I’ve tried lean toward general positive messages. Worth keeping in mind.
Different decks speak different languages, even when they’re showing the same basic symbols. Artists put their own spin on things.
The Marseilles and Rider-Waite, Smith decks are a good example. Marseilles is older and influenced RWS, but Waite and Smith mixed in Hermetic ideas and Golden Dawn teachings that gave the cards a totally different vibe. You can really see it in the minor arcana, Marseilles stays minimal while RWS puts entire scenes on each pip card.
Though Jodorowsky showed there’s more going on in those simple Marseilles cards than most people think. Some readers work better with traditional decks, some prefer modern ones. A few people even create their own. Whatever works for you.
Tarot and angel/oracle decks work differently. They’re so different you can almost not even compare them. It’s an entirely different system; they just happen to be both on cards.
Tarot has a set structure: 78 cards split into 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana across four suits.
The Majors cover big themes, like The Fool or Death. Because the system is consistent, meanings carry over from deck to deck. Angel cards are a type of oracle deck focused on angel messages. Oracle decks are more flexible-the creator decides the number of cards and the meanings. Topics can range from crystals to spirit animals to affirmations to deities.
Since theres no shared system, each oracle deck reads on its own terms.
I pick whichever deck I’m drawn to in the moment. No need to overthink it.
