There’s something rather lovely about shuffling a deck of cards, taking a quiet moment and seeing what comes up.

Although, if you’re hoping the cards will tell you where you left your glasses, I would check the top of your head first.

Tarot and oracle cards can bring curiosity, reflection and a little ritual into everyday life. You can start with a deck you enjoy and a willingness to look at things from a different angle.

Tarot or oracle: what’s the difference?

Most traditional tarot decks have 78 cards, with a structure of Major and Minor Arcana. Each card has meanings and imagery to explore, giving you plenty to learn as you become familiar with your deck.

Oracle decks are more varied. The number of cards, themes and approach depend on the creator. You might find nature, animals, affirmations, spiritual guidance or questions for reflection.

If you enjoy learning a system, tarot may appeal to you. If you prefer a more flexible starting point, you might enjoy oracle cards.

And if you like both, welcome to a hobby where “I’m just looking” can become a slightly ambitious collection.

Do I need to be psychic?

You can use cards as prompts for journalling, creative thinking or exploring how you feel about a situation. You might also choose to include them in your spiritual practice.

Look at a card and ask yourself:

What catches my eye? What does this bring to mind? How might it connect with what’s happening in my life?

The guidebook can help you discover meanings and details you might otherwise miss. You’re allowed to consult it as often as you like.

Nobody is coming to confiscate your deck because you haven’t memorised page 47.

Ask a question that gives you something to work with

A useful reading often starts with a thoughtful question.

“Will my life be completely sorted by Friday?” is understandable. It is also quite a lot to ask of a small piece of illustrated cardboard.

Try questions such as:

• What deserves my attention today?
• What could I approach differently?
• What am I overlooking?
• What small step could help me move forward?
• Where could I be kinder to myself?

These questions leave room for reflection and action. You remain the person making the decisions.

Try a simple three-card spread

Set aside a few minutes, shuffle your deck and choose three cards:

1. What can I acknowledge?
Something worth noticing about your current situation.

2. What can I make space for?
A quality, possibility or perspective you could welcome.

3. What small action can I take?
Something practical to carry into your day.

Read the cards alongside one another and jot down any thoughts. There’s no need to force a grand revelation. Sometimes the useful insight is simply that you’ve taken on too much and could ask for help.

A perfectly respectable discovery for a Tuesday.

What if I pull a frightening tarot card?

Some tarot cards certainly know how to make an entrance.

Death. The Tower. The Devil.

You were hoping for a gentle morning message and the deck appears to have hired a dramatic lighting team.

Within tarot traditions, these cards are commonly read symbolically: endings and transitions, disruption, or patterns and attachments worth examining. Drawing the Death card is not a prediction that someone will die.

Take a breath, read the guidebook and consider the wider context. If a reading leaves you unsettled, put the cards down and return another day. You can choose the pace and style of practice that feels comfortable for you.

Set the scene — and give your cards a home

A little preparation can make card reading feel like a welcome pause in the day.

Clear a space, put your phone aside and lay out a cloth. You might add a favourite crystal or keep a notebook nearby.

A reading cloth gives you a dedicated surface for your cards and makes the moment feel special. It can also help mark the transition from answering messages to paying attention to yourself.

A card bag keeps your deck together and helps protect it from everyday scuffs when stored or carried. Particularly useful if your handbag already contains three receipts, an emergency biscuit and a pen with no lid.

And the cards themselves? Choose a deck whose artwork, theme and guidebook appeal to you. You’ll be spending time with it, so enjoying it matters.

Find your next little ritual at The Spirit of Ubuntu

At The Spirit of Ubuntu, you can explore tarot and oracle cards, reading cloths and bags to create your own card-reading ritual.

Whether you’re choosing your very first deck, finding a cloth to make your reading space feel inviting or giving a much-loved pack a lovely new bag, there’s pleasure in choosing pieces you’ll enjoy using.

They make thoughtful gifts for a curious friend, too — although buying a deck for someone else and becoming rather attached to it yourself is an occupational hazard.

Explore the cards, cloths and bags at The Spirit of Ubuntu.

Put the kettle on, shuffle your cards and see what gives you pause for thought.

And check your head for those glasses.