Cartomancy 101

There are as many kinds of oracle, tarot and playing card variations in use in divination as there are people who read them. Here's a general breakdown:

Tarot

Probably the most popular form of cartomancy today, tarot was first developed as a card game in fifteenth century Italy. It was not until centuries later that it's use as a tool for divination was documented. A tarot deck is 78 cards, consisting of 22 major cards or trumps that form the Major Arcana, and 56 minor cards or pips that flesh out the four suits and make up the Minor Arcana. The four suits are traditionally wands, cups, swords and pentacles. Examples are the Rider-Waite-Smith Deck and the World Spirit Deck.

Oracle decks

Oracle decks are any number of cards to be read with as the author intended them to be. Examples include Fround's Fairy Oracle and Medicine Cards.

Playing cards

Playing cards are exactly what you probably have stuffed in a drawer already. Fifty-six cards in four suits (hearts, clubs, spades and diamonds). The divinatory meanings assigned to playing cards vary by tradition and approach.