What is the difference between a Tarot and an Oracle?

Tarots, oracles, divination decks… All these words are rather hard to make sense of. Are you wondering what the difference between all these names is? Follow the guide, we explain it all!  

Do you have a question? We answer it here in our tarot question section!

tarot ou oracles

Tarots and oracles are both divination decks

Telling oracles and tarots apart is not easy, yet both of these tools belong to the family of divination decks. Indeed, a divination deck can be described as a playful medium of divination that will help you guess or predict the future and certain mysteries.

What is a tarot deck ?

The tarot is a card deck, invented in the 15th century, which always keeps the same organisation. The tarot is made up of 78 cards, including 22 major arcana and 56 minor arcana. 

The major arcana are numbered and bear these names : 

22 arcanes majeurs
  • The Magician (or the Juggler)
  • The High Priestess (or the Popess)
  • The Empress
  • The Emperor
  • The Hierophant (or the Pope)
  • The Lover (or The Lovers in the English-language versions)
  • The Chariot
  • Justice
  • The Hermit
  • The Wheel of Fortune
  • Strength
  • The Hanged Man
  • The Nameless Arcanum/« Death »
  • Temperance
  • The Devil
  • The House of God (or the Tower)
  • The Star
  • The Moon
  • The Sun
  • Judgement
  • The World
  • The Fool

The minor arcana are divided into 4 main families of 14 cards : 

familles des arcanes mineurs
  • cups, 
  • wands, 
  • coins, 
  • swords, 

each running from the Ace to the 10 and featuring 4 court cards : 

figures tarot
  • the page, 
  • the knight,
  • the queen 
  • and the king.

Decks with this structure belong to the tarot class. You will therefore come across the Tarot of Marseille, the Rider Waite Tarot and so on…

What about oracles ? 

Conversely, an oracle has no fixed structure. The creator of a divination deck is free to use whatever organisation and number of cards they want, however they should not call it a Tarot if the deck does not contain 78 cards, 22 major arcana and 56 minor arcana. 

It is also worth remembering that an oracle is first and foremost a « message ». It can appear through cards, or through any other sign you choose to read as one.

Many small, easy-to-use decks called oracles allow you to receive messages and advice. These decks do not read the future but let you look at a difficult situation from a different angle. These oracles are very much focused on psychology and personal development.

It is hard for beginners to understand why one deck is called an oracle and another a tarot. To tell the truth, many deck creators use names that are not really meaningful. So do not rely on the name alone: the structure will also help you recognise the decks you are using. And when you choose a deck, trust your intuition. The overall theme of the divination deck and its illustrations will guide you towards the deck that speaks to you the most.