Cartomancy 101
Let’s get into the sects or cartomancy. I’ll tell you what it means, the primary ones you might come across, and their strengths so you can find the style that works best for a practice you may want to build yourself or the right reader to grant clearer insight. If you’re left with questions or would feel more confident in conversation you can book for more knowledge about these things or let the quiz tell you what you need if you’re looking for divine insight on something specific!
Tarot is a divination practice that is structured through 78 cards, traditionally using biblical references through art. The 21 major arcana, followed by the 4 suits, and their court cards. Each card holding it’s own piece of the puzzle. Tarot can reveal the deeper patterns in the mind or in a situation, granting people insight through perspective. Best utilized for understanding the why’s and what’s, giving info on the subjective or big picture. Symbolic, psychological, and archetypal in nature. This can be read intuitively as well as by the book or reversed in some cases.
Oracle cards don’t have any of the rigid pillars that other card divination may have. There may be imagery that is minimalistic or colorful and intricate. There can be words or symbols or none at all. It may have 10 cards or 100+. Some may have a guidebook or be so straightforward that there isn’t one. Oracle decks leave more space for intuition to roam without being concerned about any “traditional” meanings or symbolism. Oracle decks will also grant insight, sometimes the kind you want may be specific to the deck itself (like an oracle deck for timing or one for love) instead of tarot which can be utilize across aspects as long as you are attentive enough.
Leonormand cards are a 36 card system. Made to be more literal and practical than the 2 I listed above. Made to be read in pairs (2+ cards) unlike the other 2 style which can give you one-card answers. The answers are more concise and straight-forward unlike how detailed tarot can be and not as focused on the mystical or deeper patterns. Not best for the why’s and better suited for the presently and practical answers in order to orient yourself about your immediate next steps. Strict but short meanings to each card (no reversals) utilizing everyday symbols/concepts (ship/woman/house/etc) instead of concepts like tarot would.
Playing Cards: The standard 52 card deck accessible and inconspicuous cartomancy style and probably the oldest form of Cartomancy (meaning you will see this style of card divination first if you looked it up). Using 4 suits as tarot does, without as much as the depth or mystical themes. A bit more black and white — I would say a bit of a midground between leonormand and tarot. Answering things in a concise way and sometimes having overlapping meanings with tarot also containing court cards and thus archetypes. Can do one card readings or pulling more information through various card spreads. Giving more detail than Leonormand but less than tarot as it is also focused on being more practical in nature.
Of course, there are more than the one’s that I’ve listed and a lot more history to those mediums, feel free to take a deeper dive on your own if you feel intrigued by any of them. There are also different style of divination that don’t involve cards too in case you felt like none of these called to you or where a nice fit. Maybe we can go over some of those at a later point. As always I hope this was helpful, see you guys next week!
