13. Oracle Cards: How to Start, Use, and Bring Magic Into Your Everyday Life with Kourtney Koenitzer
- Jun 12, 2023
- 14 min read
Updated: Feb 19
Oracle cards have become one of the friendliest entry points into spiritual practice for curious beginners and seasoned practitioners alike. If you’ve ever wondered what are oracle cards, how to use an oracle deck, or whether a colourful deck of cards can actually help you tune into intuition and make clearer decisions—this blog is for you. Kourtney will walk you through practical tools, step-by-step rituals, journaling practices that pair beautifully with oracle cards, and a simple card-reading you can try the next time you want guidance.
If we haven't met yet, I’m Brittany, an online marketing strategist for female entrepreneurs. I teach women how to make their entrepreneurial dreams a reality through smart, actionable marketing strategies that get them seen, loved, and paid. Whether you’re eager to DIY your way to success or hire professionals to help you along the way–my goal is to make sure you walk away with the clarity you need to see the results you desire and build a life you love.
Meet Kourtney
After working with a conscious parenting coach through the Jai Institute and working closely with energy healing to support her own journey, Kourtney developed a passion for supporting others on their journey and turned it into into Niyama Love, a St. Thomas based business, and the offerings available today.
In addition to being a mom and small business owner, she is a Reiki Master Practitioner & Teacher, an Ohana Generational Healing Practitioner, Yoga Teacher, Manifestation Coach, and Meditation Guide, and she's joining me today to outline the different Chakra's and how they impact business owners.
Table of Contents
Why oracle cards work (and why they don’t have to be intimidating)
There’s a misconception that oracle cards are mystical, mysterious tools reserved for “psychics” or people who live in forest cottages. The truth is simpler and more empowering. Oracle cards are prompts—artwork, language, and symbolism designed to trigger intuition, self-reflection, and new perspectives. Think of them as mirrors for your inner life: they don’t tell you your fate, they help you notice what’s already alive inside your heart and mind.
Oracle cards are collections of individually illustrated cards where each card carries a message, theme, or prompt. Unlike tarot—where cards follow a specific structured system—oracle cards are free-form. Each deck has its own creator, voice, and intended energy. Some decks are light and encouraging, some are poetic and introspective, and some are explicitly themed (animals, fairies, chakra work, ancestors, etc.).
Because each deck is unique, the accompanying booklet becomes your friend: it explains intended meanings, sample spreads, and sometimes offers short rituals. Combine the booklet’s guidance with your own instincts. That mix of structure and intuition is where the magic happens.
Using oracle cards is less about predicting the future and more about making space: space to notice feelings, to receive messages our busy minds usually ignore, and to translate unseen nudges into action. If you’re a business owner trying to balance life and work, a parent carving out small pockets of sanity, or someone curious about spiritual tools, oracle cards can become a practical, joyful part of your toolkit.
Safety and groundedness: practical disclaimers
Oracle cards are supportive, not definitive. They’re not a substitute for medical or mental health treatment, legal advice, or financial planning. Use them as a complement to professional guidance when needed. Also, when using any ritual involving smoke, be mindful of fire safety and personal sensitivities.
Core tools: what you’ll actually need to begin
Good news: you don’t need an altar, a certification, or a special outfit. Start small. Combine these low-cost items to create a meaningful practice:
A deck of oracle cards — Choose a deck that visually resonates with you. There is no wrong choice. Popular beginner-friendly decks include decks with uplifting or “light” themes. Kourtney suggests Oracle of the 7 Energies Deck. My first deck was Work Your Light Oracle Deck and I love it!
A notebook and pen — Journaling pairs incredibly well with oracle cards. It helps you track messages and notice patterns over time.
Basic cleansing tools (optional) — A bundle of sage, a stick of Palo Santo, incense, or a few drops of essential oil can help you create ritual and mark transitions between readings.
A quiet spot or a small corner — Create a consistent place for your practice, even if it’s a shelf, a bedside table, or a tray you keep on the kitchen counter. Mostly if you're a mom you want to keep them away from your kids so they don't damage your cards.
If you’re the kind of person who over-complicates things (guilty), set a rule: one dollar-store lined notebook, one pen, and one deck. That’s all it takes to start harvesting useful insight. Kourtney and I talk more about this in our full conversation on the Go Get Great marketing podcast, you can tune in here:
How to choose your first deck
If you’re standing in front of a shelf packed with decks, here are simple ways to choose:
Go by resonance — Pick the deck that visually makes you pause. If the artwork draws you in, that’s a good sign.
Check the tone — Are you looking for gentle, supportive guidance, or something raw and reflective? Decks can be upbeat, haunting, or neutral.
Read the booklet — If you can open a sample booklet or preview online, glance at the card descriptions. Do they speak your language?
Consider practicality — Size, price, and readability matter. If you plan to travel with your deck, compact size helps.
Ask for recommendations — From friends or sales associates at the store, they can often help you navigate the overwhelm since there are so many deck options out there.
Suggested starter themes: “light” or angelic decks if you feel cautious, nature or animal decks if you want playful energy, or chakra/energy decks if you want a practical, healing-focused set.
Deck recommendations and themes to consider
To get you started, here are a few types of decks that beginners tend to appreciate:
Gentle “light” decks: Great for people who prefer supportive, encouraging language.
Fairy or nature decks: Playful, imaginative, and great for creativity and inner-child work.
Chakra or energy decks: Practical for healing-focused readings and body-emotion inquiries.
Animal or totem decks: Helpful for symbolic, archetypal messages.
Start with one and collect later if you feel called. It’s normal to end up with more than one—many people are delighted by a small “library” of decks for different moods.
Where to buy decks and how to find special editions
Decks are widely available. Here are popular places to look:
Online retailers (bookstores, general marketplaces).
Local bookstore chains or indie bookshops—many carry curated decks. If you're in St. Thomas, Kourtney & I recommend Purely Wicked.
Crystal shops and metaphysical stores—often stock unique or locally made decks.
Artist shops and local markets—these places sometimes offer rare or handmade decks.
If you’re looking for something unique, ask shop owners if they can order a specific deck for you or film a live browse so you can choose from a distance.
How to prepare and cleanse a new deck
When you bring a new deck home, Kourtney notes that it’s common to want to “charge” it with your energy. Here are gentle steps to make the deck feel like yours:
Open the booklet and scan the creator’s intentions for the deck. Sometimes there are instructions for preparing your deck here.
Gently shuffle the cards while thinking of a simple intention (“May this deck help me notice what I need to know”).
Optionally, tap or knock on the deck three times to welcome the energy in.
If you use cleansing tools, wave smoke briefly around the cards or anoint the edges with a tiny drop of essential oil on a tissue. (Be careful—not all decks like liquids.)
Store the deck somewhere safe—wrap it in fabric, a pouch, or keep it in its box.
There’s no single “right” ritual. The point is to mark the moment and build a relationship with your deck. I usually just go through each of the cards looking at the artwork, touching the cards helps them assimilate to your energy (so I'm told).
Step-by-step: how to use an oracle deck for a reading
Ready to try your first reading? Kourtney shares a simple, beginner-friendly approach that takes less than five minutes.
Set an intention. Ask a clear, open question like “What do I need to know right now?” or “What should I notice about my next steps?”
Shuffle with purpose. Shuffle until it feels right—even five to twenty seconds is enough. Your hands and attention connect to the cards.
Spread and choose. Fan the cards face down. Use your left hand (the receptive side) to hover and pick. If a card flips or falls, pay attention—it’s part of the conversation.
Flip and observe. Look at the artwork first. Notice a word, symbol, or color that jumps out before reading the booklet.
Read the booklet. Combine the card’s intended meaning with your first impressions. Journal your reaction immediately.
Notice action steps. Ask: What is one small thing I can do today based on this message?
Keep your journal entries short and honest. Over time you’ll notice language and metaphors that regularly show up. Those recurring motifs are your clues. I have one deck that when I use it I tend to pull the same card whenever I do a reading, crazy right? It's a message that I'm still working to embrace so I keep pulling the same card - or at least that's what I'm interpreting it as.
Simple spreads to try with oracle cards
A “spread” is a layout of multiple cards used to answer a question. This is where I got stuck when I first started. Sometimes the guide books will recommend some spread to try but when I asked Kourtney for advice as well this is what she had to share. Here are three practice spreads for beginners:
One-card daily draw — Great for a quick truth or theme for the day. Shuffle, pull one card, and journal one sentence about how it might show up.
Three-card: Present / Immediate challenge / Advice — Pull three cards in a row. Read left to right as: What’s happening now / What’s blocking me / What to do next.
Four-card: Present / Near future / Heart / Practical step — This is helpful when you want both inner and outer guidance.
You’ll find many pre-made spreads in the booklet that comes with your deck. Use them. Adapt them. The structure helps you practice interpreting cards in context.
Reading the imagery: how to interpret a card beyond the booklet
The booklet gives you a dictionary-style meaning. Your unique reading comes from what you notice in the image first—colors, animals, objects, mood and what resonates from the description. Try this three-step image exercise when a card lands:
Name what you see. Say out loud the first words that come to mind—“rabbit,” “ocean,” “moonlight.”
Ask a curiosity question. “If this image was speaking to me, what would it say right now?”
Connect to your life. Link the image to an actual event, emotion, or relationship in your life.
The booklet’s meaning + your image responses + a journal reflection = a layered, practical message for you that changes whenever you do a reading.
Rituals that make the practice feel sacred (without being fussy)
Rituals anchor intention. You don’t need elaborate ceremonies—simple cues work best for busy lives:
Light a small candle or a smudge stick to mark the start of a reading.
Play five minutes of gentle music for a guided reading or meditation before you draw cards.
Write today’s date at the top of your journal entry to track progress across weeks and months.
Close your reading by saying, “Thank you” aloud or placing a finger over your heart to integrate the message emotionally.
These tiny rituals make your practice repeatable and meaningful.
Energy-clearing tools you can use between clients or before readings
If you read for others or simply want to reset your space, a quick energetic cleanse helps. These tools are practical:
Sage smudge or Palo Santo smoke waved around the reading area.
Essential oils—frankincense, lavender, or rosemary—for scent and grounding.
Sound clearing—singing bowls, bells, or a few notes of humming.
Smudging with a feather or fan to move energy away from your workspace.
After a reading, a brief cleanse signals a new beginning for the next person or the next moment.
What to expect in your first few months with oracle cards
Most people experience three common phases when starting to use oracle cards:
Curiosity and experimentation—You’ll try different spreads, decks, and rituals. This is the fun, messy phase.
Pattern recognition—After a few weeks, words, images, or metaphors begin repeating. Those repeats are your inner language showing up.
Integration—The cards become a practical tool to take small actions. You’ll use a card to ask for focus, courage, or a reminder to pause—and actually follow through.
Keep expectations low and curiosity high. Small, consistent practice beats occasional magic moments.
How to read for a group or do a collective card pull
Group readings can be energizing. The simplest collective reading is a single-card pull for the group’s energy. Here’s an easy process Kourtney uses:
Set a group intention aloud (example: “What do we most need to hear right now?”).
Shuffle and invite one person to cut or pull a card.
Read the card’s message and then ask the group what words or feelings arise.
Journal or discuss practical steps as a group—how will everyone take one small action based on the card?
A deck may produce a cluster of similar cards if the group energy is aligned—pay attention to repeated symbols or colors.
Sample collective pull (example you can try)
This is a simple three-card collective spread you can use with friends, coworkers, or online groups:
Card 1: The group’s current energy.
Card 2: One internal shift the group is invited to make.
Card 3: A practical action everyone can take within the next week.
After the reading, ask each person to choose one small, concrete action they’ll commit to and to write it down. Follow up the next week and celebrate even small wins.
How journaling deepens your oracle card practice
Think of journaling as the second half of your reading. The cards open a door; journaling walks you through it. If you’re new to journaling, you don’t need fancy supplies— a lined notebook and a pen will more than do the job.
Start with a single prompt that truly anchors the practice. My go-to is simple and transformational:
What am I feeling today?
That prompt reconnects you with the present moment and reveals emotions that inform the card’s message. Other prompts that pair well with oracle cards:
What is the main theme I’m noticing today?
What would I do differently if fear wasn’t a factor?
What small action can I take this week to honor this message?
What popped up from my childhood that this card reminds me of?
Keep entries short—one to three paragraphs. If you only write one sentence, that’s still progress. The point is consistent reflection. I like to do a bit of journaling or brain dumping before doing a reading so my mind is clear and I'm present, and I like to journal after noting what came up form the cards and any action steps I need to take.
Kourtney shares incredible insight and valuable journal prompts for business owners in these blog posts, check them out here:
Driving hypnosis, meditation, and cards: the connection
You’ve probably experienced it: you arrive somewhere and have no memory of the drive. I asked Kourtney about this, this “highway hypnosis” happens when the brain shifts into a deep, relaxed state while routine actions continue. It’s not sleep; it’s a different kind of awareness that can make space for big ideas to surface.
Meditation—especially guided meditations or breathwork—works the same way. When you relax into mind without pushing to “clear” it, images, memories, and solutions often arrive naturally. Oracle cards build on that relaxed clarity. A short meditation before a reading can help quiet the internal chatter so the card’s image lands deeper.
Practical tip: if you’re stuck on a problem, try a walking meditation or a shower (safe places where you can’t drive!) and then pull one card. The relaxed state often primes your intuition for an “aha” moment.'
How to integrate an oracle reading into business decisions
If you run a small business, you can use oracle cards as a lightweight strategy tool. They’re especially useful when you’re stuck or overthinking. Here’s how:
Use a one-card draw when you need a theme for the week (marketing, boundaries, hiring).
Pair a card with a journaling prompt: “How can this card guide my next launch?”
Use a three-card spread to weigh options: Option A / Option B / What to ask next.
After a launch or big decision, pull a card to reflect on what you learned and what to change next time.
Oracle cards don’t replace planning or metrics. They help you access a quieter kind of intelligence—intuition, creativity, and alignment.
Common beginner questions (answered)
Do oracle cards ever give “no” answers?
Yes—some decks include direct “no” or “wait” cards, but many decks are more nuanced. Instead of a simple yes/no, the cards often give context, timing, or action steps. If you need a clear decision, frame a direct, practical question and use a yes/no spread or a deck that offers binary cards.
What if I shuffle forever and can’t pick a card?
Take a breath. Try cutting the deck instead of shuffling. Or spread the cards face down and hover your left hand—pick the card that gives you a small physical nudge. Remember, the practice is about connection, not perfection.
How often should I pull oracle cards?
Once per day for a theme, weekly for planning, or whenever you feel stuck. Overdoing it can lead to over-reliance. Use the cards as an ally, not as a substitute for action.
Are oracle cards the same as tarot?
No. Tarot follows a structured 78-card system with specific archetypes. Oracle cards are free-form and vary by creator. Both can be powerful—your preference depends on whether you want structure (tarot) or open-ended prompts (oracle).
Can children use oracle cards?
Yes—choose gentle, age-appropriate decks with simple imagery and language. Cards can help kids express feelings and develop emotional literacy when used with guidance.
How do I know which deck is right for me?
Choose a deck by how it makes you feel—resonance matters more than popularity. If a cover or card image grabs you, that’s likely the right deck. If you’re unsure, visit a local shop, ask to handle a deck, or preview online.
Can oracle cards help me with work or business decisions?
Yes—use them as a creative clarity tool. Draw a card to set the weekly theme, use three-card spreads to weigh options, and journal action steps after each reading. Combine intuitive insight with practical planning for best results.
How should I store and care for my decks?
Keep your deck in a box or cloth pouch, away from moisture and direct sunlight. Treat them respectfully—shuffle with clean hands, avoid liquids, and cleanse energetically when needed.
What is a fair way to interpret a card that scares me?
Pause and ask what emotion the card is activating. Look at the booklet’s message and then ask, “What can I learn from this?” Often cards that feel scary are invitations to examine a fear and transform it into action.
Kourtney has been a guest on Go Get Great several times, check out her other episodes!
Final thoughts on Oracle Cards: invite curiosity, not pressure
The most important rule with oracle cards is this: curiosity beats perfection. If you’re tentative, start with five minutes, one card, and a one-sentence journal entry. Over time, the cards become a steady, reliable practice—an easy tool for noticing what’s alive inside you and translating insight into small, meaningful action.
If you’re ready to try oracle cards, pick a deck that makes you smile, set a tiny ritual that feels doable, and remember to ask one clear question. The rest will follow—one beautiful, surprising nudge at a time.
Oracle cards are practical, portable tools for inner work, decision-making, and creative thinking. They pair beautifully with journaling and simple meditative practices, and they translate subtle inner signals into clear, everyday actions. Enjoy the journey—one gentle pull at a time and be sure to follow and say hi to Kourtney and I on Instagram @brittanymillersocials.
Episode References:
How Are you Really by Jenna Kutcher
52 Lists for Happiness journal
Spring Journaling Prompts for Your Business by Niyama Love
*These are affiliate links, meaning I earn a commission if you decide to purchase through them. Thank you for supporting my work!
Connect with Kourtney
on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/niyamalovereikiandyoga/
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Give us a follow if you're ready to take life from good to great, you'll be the first to know when we share more about motherhood and business. If it really resonated, the kids and I would do a happy dance if you left us a review 💗. ~ Brittany
00:00 Intro
1:00 Kourtney's business tools
3:07 Getting started with journaling
13:52 Driving hypnosis
16:00 Meditation
21:00 Introducing Oracle cards
25:00 Using Oracle cards
28:00 Tips for buying decks
30:00 Collective card pull
43:07 Where to find us
44:23 Wrap up
