If you've ever gone to a holistic or metaphysical fair, chances are you've seen booths featuring oracle and tarot card readers. Both types of card decks are increasing in popularity as more and more people gravitate towards new ways to connect with spirituality, source, and their life purpose. The readers you see at those fairs are often skilled in interpreting cards, but anyone can use them and gain insight.
First off, how do they work? There are an overwhelming number of layouts you can use, and an equally high number of readers and experts who will tell you that you must shuffle the cards a certain way, draw them a certain way, and interpret them a certain way, or you are doing it WRONG. Well, I'm here to say, anyone who tells you there is only ONE way to use cards is wrong. On their most basic level, cards are communication tools. Whether you're using them to connect to the Divine, your higher self, or that angsty ghost lurking in your basement--they provide a vocabulary of set meanings through written words on the cards and in the guidebooks, as well as visually through the illustrations on the cards. How you get to the card is entirely up to you.
As an example, as you begin your reading and ask your question, you may choose to set the intention that after you've shuffled, the first card you draw is your intended message. Or you might set the intention that as you're shuffling, the first card to "jump" out is your intended message. You may even set the intention that after you've shuffled the bottom card is your intended card. Are you seeing a pattern here? All of these revolve around your intention. You set the rules. I've met many readers who all do things a little bit differently and all give fantastic readings. They are using the cards within their own rules and have their own procedure that works well for them. You can certainly follow someone else's system if you choose, but I would also encourage you to become comfortable with your cards and modify and adapt those systems to fit your own unique self.
Now you've drawn a card, how do you interpret it? Tarot decks have a very standardized set of meanings, although newer decks are starting to stray beyond those rigid definitions. Doreen Virtue's long out of print, "Guardian Angel Tarot" deck is an excellent example of a more modern take on the traditional suits and meanings. If you're working with an oracle deck, each deck is going to vary tremendously with its meanings and illustrations. The answer to your question may be a single line of interpretation in the guidebook that jumps out to you, or it may be the entire description for that card. When you're reading the corresponding meanings, pay attention to what jumps out to you and what does not resonate with you. Those will be your biggest clues as to what you should be looking for.
It could also be that the meaning for the card does not connect with you at all, but the illustration on the card does. In a personal example, a couple of years ago I visited a medium and an entity came through in a hilarious way while she was doing her meditation. She was visualizing a beautiful meadow next to a lush forest and walking me through what she was seeing. Suddenly, this man appeared and had chopped down some of her trees and built a fence through her beautiful meadow. The entire incident was hilarious, and was a very unique way to identify himself during the reading. After I'd gone home, I had lingering doubts if that was truly him. A friend of mine asked for him to help her select a card to validate if that was truly him at the reading. The card she pulled did not apply at all to my situation by it's definition, but what was the illustration? A person leaning over a split rail wooden fence!
I highly encourage anyone who is interested in oracle and tarot cards to invest in a journal or notebook to write down and record their card readings. Sometimes the message you receive today will better serve you later in the week, or is referencing something that will come up in the future. It is important to know that when you are working with cards, and you are setting your intention for the information you wish to receive, there are no mistakes. You cannot do it "wrong." You will receive the message you need to. The more you work with certain decks, the easier interpreting them will become. Over time, you may begin to memorize the meanings of certain cards, but each time you pull them, you may be guided to only a certain portion of their meaning, or just to the illustration. Always trust your intuition and inner guidance with cards. Follow the meaning you are being pulled to and then trust it.
Once you step into the world of card decks, it opens a whole new world of possibility to you! You can use them to communicate with your spirit guides, your higher self, and even that ghost hanging out in your house who likes to build fences....There is no limit. The key is to set your intention before you begin to receive a message and guidance from whomever it is your are trying to reach, and that it be for your highest good.
Personally, I highly recommend Colette Baron-Reid's oracle decks, which is why I carry a number of them on my site. They have been very helpful and useful for me over the years. I am in the process of adding more decks to this site as I thoroughly enjoy them and have amassed a large number of them over the years....bookcases worth...yikes! But I love them and am always collecting more! You can see the decks I currently carry here: https://healingwindsreiki.com/collections/oracle-and-tarot-cards
I also recommend following Hay House because they often will offer big sales where you can try a variety of types of decks at a VERY reasonable price.
I have gathered some used card decks as well, and will be adding those to the website as I find them. I will be cleansing them and infusing them with positive energy using Reiki so that they are as good as new! I currently have some out of print Doreen Virtue decks (among others) to add.
I hope you will give card decks a try and remember that they are communication tools for you. You can use them however you are most comfortable!