oracoli
Oracle
Oracle is the word that indicates both the divinatory system (tarot, runes, I Ching, crystal ball) and the answer obtained. It derives from the Latin oraculum, "divine place or speech", and in classical antiquity it referred to the great sanctuaries such as Delphi, Dodona or Cumae, where priests and priestesses revealed the messages of the gods.
Ancient oracles
The oracle of Delphi, sacred to Apollo, was the most famous of antiquity: the Pythia in trance pronounced enigmatic answers to pilgrims. At Dodona the rustling of the sacred oaks was interpreted. At Cumae the Sibyl operated, immortalised by Virgil. In Egypt and Mesopotamia too there were oracular places linked to the scrying of water, dreams or natural events.
Contemporary oracles
Today the term is used broadly for any divinatory tool (card decks, runes, brief symbolic systems). On Tarotsi we gather oracles such as the I Ching, the Viking runes, the Belline oracle, the angels oracle, the crystal ball and synthetic oracles (yes or no, colours, fortune).
FAQ
Difference between oracle and tarot?
Tarot is a specific deck of 78 cards. Oracles are any deck or system not structured as tarot.
Do oracles predict the future?
They have symbolic value, not certain predictive value. They provide a mirror for reflection.
Which oracle to choose?
It depends on the theme and the style. For quick yes/no advice, the yes or no oracle or the pendulum; for archetypes, runes or the I Ching; for matters of the heart, the angels oracle or the Belline.