By Lalia Wilson
Here at Tarot Reflections we look at several types of cards. First is Tarot, of course. Tarot is the most well-known type of card used for meditation or divination. Tarot cards follow three main schools: Rider-Waite-Smith (the most well-known and popular), Crowley-Thoth, and Marseilles. Each has a standard 78 cards; sometimes their creators add additional cards. Each has standard interpretations which vary between the schools.
The second is Lenormand cards. These are not as popular as Tarot, but they have a fixed format, like Tarot, and similar standard ways to read them. There is also a standard number, 36, and pretty standard agreement about the 36 cards, nine of which are positive, nine negative, and the other 18 neutral. Just like tarot, sometimes the creator of a Lenormand deck will throw in an additional card or two.
But this all changes with Oracle decks. There is no standard number of cards. According to Aeclectic Tarot, oracle decks can have as few as 20 cards, or as many as 140! Each deck is original to the designer and their worldview and stage of life. Each designer picks and uses a theme that is meaningful to them. Because these decks are so idiosyncratic, each needs to be viewed and judged on its merits. No one deck is for everyone and no person will like them all.
My favorite Oracle decks are The Druid Plant and Animal Oracle by Philip and Stephanie Carr-Gorm, with art by Will Worthington (see app at http://www.foolsdog.com/DruidOracles/), The Sea Whispers Oracle by Lyn Thurman, available as an app from www.indie-goes.com, and Ashley Snow’s Intuitive Mandala Oracle Cards also available as an app from www.indie-goes.com. I’ve given you the app information above. Both Sea Whispers and the Intuitive Mandala Oracle are available free as apps on Kindle devices. As cards, the Druid Plant and the Druid Animal Oracles are two different decks available at Amazon and other retailers.