If you are a part of Witch Club, this month’s box contained a bunch of info and guides for cartomancy; specifically focusing on guides to learning tarot cards! Cartomancy is the art of reading cards. But within cartomancy there are many different styles depending on the types of deck you use:
Tarot Decks: 78 cards total. Like their predecessor, playing cards, Tarot decks have suits. There are 5 suits in Tarot: Swords, Wands, Pentacles, Cups, and The Major Arcana. Tarot decks have a set structure, but artists have independent styles and interpretations of these archetypes which give each deck a unique feel. Tarot has multiple schools of philosophy and esoteric associations embedded in them which can make them intimidating. But reading Tarot for yourself can be a great meditative practice. Tarot cards also make good journaling prompts, inspiration draws, and ritual focal points.
Lenormand Decks: 36 cards total. Each Lenormand card has a specific single symbol which was based on traditional tea-leaf reading symbols. Because of the relatively simple symbolism of the Lenormand decks, they are easy to learn and give direct and practical readings. They are good for exploring day-to-day situations as well as questions about timing.
Oracle Decks: Technically an Oracle deck is any set of divination cards which do not fit into any of the other structured styles. Oracle decks are each unique and the symbolism and interpretations are entirely at the discretion of the deck creator. Oracle decks are good as inspiration or to add as an extra layer to a reading with Tarot.
-post by Laura of Moth & Candle
Each style of readings has it’s advantages and disadvantages, and it all falls to what style you feel more drawn to! Don’t have a deck but want to try out tarot? https://labyrinthos.co/ is a good resource; with an educational app that allows you to pull cards along with lessons to learn how to use the cards on your own. Stay tuned for more, as we deep dive Lenormand cards with Moth & Candle (@mothandcandle), on Tuesday 16th on instagram @oraclekc
Image of Obsidian Oracle Deck by Megan Buccere - available online and in-store - We have also put together a blog of brilliant decks by Black and people of color artists we are in love with (down below). But also… let’s talk about how my pull for today signifies needing movement forward, change, and sometimes needing to go for it in unorthodox way… might be a sign for some good movement (very much needed change) ahead :)