You want to learn to practice divination, and you feel lost? You don't know where to start, what to expect, or if you have the necessary qualities to interpret the message of the oracles? Rest assured, you have all the skills to achieve your goals: each practitioner has their own divinatory language and unique needs; you just need to identify your natural qualities to develop a practice that suits you, respecting your personal needs.
ESSENTIAL SKILLS
On a trend at believe than the practices divinatory requires a gift particular, than t'one not can not develop by oneself, c'is however far d'to be the truth. It exists as much of techniques than of practitioners, and you too have the possibility to develop your own approach.
The oracles who came before you, have due oneself to rely on their talents personal for to create a language which their was own; none ability n'is therefore more essential than the motivation during the theoretical and practical learning of a new subject.
Good safe, the motivation at she only not can not you to carry until'at the success of your goals, if you n'have not awareness of reasons deep which you grow in your learning. La clarity of intention will allow you to make informed choices in the development of your personal practice.
You do not need to know how to use all card decks and oracles to be an effective practitioner; you just need to be aware of your preferences, your strengths and weaknesses, and develop your natural talents while respecting your true nature.
Patience will allow you to become aware of the subtlety of your deep nature, and how it expresses itself; the more time you take, the more you will be able to know what truly suits you, what deeply motivates you, and what nourishes your essential being.
THE ORACULAR ARCHETYPES
While there are as many divinatory practices as there are practitioners, commercial offerings remain limited to the most used format, and probably the most appealing for beginners: cards, a format that has given birth to an incredible number of tarots and other oracles, their analysis relying on relatively similar rules from one oracle to another.
However, no one seems willing to reveal the "underneath the cards," explaining to new generations why and how to identify which interpretation techniques are most suitable to their personal style.
The oracular archetypes illustrate the basic approaches among which a novice can choose to practice divination. Whether it is divination by cards, oracles, beads, charms, etc., each field is based on similar principles that are widely spread today.
Each archetype follows rules that should allow beginners to define their own style of reading and interpretation. So if you are a novice, I invite you to choose the archetype that suits you best to start your learning, before moving on to another when the time comes.
- The writer oracle. As its name indicates, the writer oracle works with words, and more specifically the texts provided in the booklets accompanying the oracles, or present in the very illustrations of the cards. For the beginner, this archetype is particularly suitable, as it allows focusing very precisely on the analysis provided by the author, thus limiting doubts regarding a more personal interpretation still poorly mastered.
- The artist oracle. Individuals belonging to this archetype are strongly attracted to the illustrations on their oracles; they know how to analyze symbols, colors, and compositions, bringing out the personal meaning that the cards inspire in them. This intuitive archetype is particularly suited to those who have a natural attraction to nonverbal communication.
- The scholar oracle. Most beginners in divination start without any prior experience in the field, or esoteric or spiritual knowledge. The scholar oracle relies on their passions to develop their practice, focusing on their favorite domains to express their potential: if the practitioner is passionate about nature, they may turn to an oracle using flowers or plants as an interpretive tool, etc.
- The medium oracle. Intuition is one of the fundamental tools on which divination relies; the medium oracle is among those sensitive beings capable of channeling the underlying message of their oracle, they will push analyses further. This archetype must learn to trust themselves and develop attentive listening to their feelings.
The archetypes presented here are defined to help you more easily identify the one that suits you best; these models can obviously be expanded over time: you can very well be a writer and scholar oracle, a medium and artist oracle, it all depends on how you approach your learning and your current needs!
These models are offered to help you understand how you function and how to begin your divinatory learning with ease. If you have no experience, start by choosing the archetype that speaks to you the most, do some tests, and you will see that over time you will be able to associate several in your practice.
IDENTIFY MY ARCHETYPE
If you don't know what type of oracle you currently are, you can start by choosing a deck that speaks to you, whether for its design, format, or the energy it gives off; this will already inform you about how you naturally connect to the world around you. If you are attracted by the design, maybe you are an artist oracle; if you are interested in the theme, maybe you are a writer oracle or scholar oracle; if you are drawn by the feeling it inspires, maybe you are a medium oracle. Take note of this information; it will help you specify your archetype.
Let's now observe this first deck: start by handling it in your hands, fan out the cards or stir the runes in their pouch; observe the symbols and illustrations offered to you, leaf through the booklet and try to familiarize yourself with the basic rules provided in your oracle. At first, you may feel attracted to the images without yet understanding how to articulate the meaning of the cards and symbols with the texts offered or with a particular message. Now observe what you feel when facing the texts and images offered.
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If you are a writer oracle, you will undoubtedly be drawn to words, formulas, or phrases that will jump out at you; sometimes you will simply feel more at ease with texts without it causing a strong reaction; appreciate this feeling of confidence, tranquility, or peace for what it is worth, perhaps you simply need to know that you can read calmly and take your time to analyze in order to feel confident.
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If you are an artist oracle, then it may be the colors of the cards or particular illustrations that will catch your attention first. Does a color inspire a certain feeling? Does an image remind you of a childhood memory? Does a composition evoke a sense of déjà vu? You are certainly sensitive to the illustrations offered to you; pay attention to these subtle inspirations, as they will carry the most weight in your analyses!
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If you are a scholarly oracle, you may be drawn to symbols or illustrations that echo your favorite discipline, whether you are passionate about history, geology, sewing, astrology, or numerology, you can rely on the feelings and knowledge you have developed to give a more personal meaning to your analyses.
- If you are a medium oracle, it is likely that the meaning of the cards will be immediately apparent to you, whether because of a flash inspired by an illustration, a phrase construction, or a personal experience that comes to you unexpectedly. Pay attention to these inspirations and compare your impressions with what the analysis booklet offers, this will give you a broader perspective during your interpretations.
By identifying what stands out to you when working with your oracles, you can get an insight into how your gift naturally manifests in you. Take note of your impressions and feelings; it is common for one or more of these qualities to be present in you. If you cannot decide which one speaks to you the most or seems best suited to your needs, start by working with the one that seems easiest, then you can develop your other talents later. It is just as natural to have only one talent, which you can refine with great precision, as it is to have several that will gradually integrate with each other over time to form your own divinatory language.
MOVE TO PRACTICE
You have just defined your oracular identity; if you are just beginning divination, focus on developing the basic qualities related to this archetype before continuing your learning. The more you practice, the more you will be able to articulate your analyses precisely; you will know it is time to evolve when you feel boredom or are naturally drawn to another method of analysis.
These archetypes are obviously a working base, if you already have a keen intuition, then the cards and oracles will serve as a basic medium to express your natural talent, so you may be drawn to other tools like tea leaves, beads, charms, or any other divination method that calls upon your personal talents. To start practicing divination based on your oracular identity, I invite you to create a reading tracking journal. It is essential to be able to track your progress to identify where you need guidance and, above all, to have a detailed record of your analyses to know how they translate into your life!
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The first step is to create a divinatory journal in which you can record the details of your readings, starting with the date, the deck used, the question, the card placement, and your analysis. Your journal can be kept in writing, orally with a voice recorder, or through photographs. Use your imagination to create something that reflects you and makes you want to practice and have fun; this will make your sessions more joyful or more serious depending on your needs.
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The second step is to practice regularly, every day if you can, every week should be a minimum. One card per day can be a good start to familiarize yourself with your oracle, otherwise you can choose to do a reading for the week to see what awaits you and to do regular follow-up. Why? Depending on your learning goal, you will need to develop your capacity for analysis, reflection, and synthesis; this requires some mental gymnastics, like any sport activity, you need to be rigorous if you want to see results.
- The third step is to regularly take stock: when a reading causes you problems, I invite you to note your feelings and what seems to be the cause of your blockage. If you cannot find the cause of this difficulty, I invite you to contact me using a contact form to ask your questions. Sometimes you may face a frustrating analysis that seems to lead nowhere; in such cases, it is important to rephrase your question or let go! So remember to regularly note what seems to cause you difficulties and anxieties, then come back to me for advice or order a guidance from the shop.
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Discover the basics of benevolent divination with the Runic Divination Manual available on Amazon! Learn to ask the right questions, analyze the runes simply, discover how to create and purify your personalized rune set, and much more!
NOTE: This vision of divination was developed after years of research and personal reflection on this subject, it does not seek to replace established concepts, but rather to open reflection and discussion; if you have thoughts on this subject, leave a comment below or use a contact form.
Divination - Styles of Interpretation © 2025 by Anne-Lise Pollet is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0