Many uses of Oracle/ tarot
One card reading
I would suggested for newbies is to stick to the one card reading or three card layout reading, one card is normally what will happen in your day and the three card reading is the past, present and the future. Why this? It is a great way to get to know your deck.
If you buy a deck of cards in a shop, they normally have their very own guidebook. You can flip the pages and read through the card meanings, sometimes though we may not have the time to sit and read a book about card meanings. Especially when some of the decks can contain three or two pages of details about that said card meaning. I would suggest bond with them while you can, this can before bed time or early morning. Where you suffer with the intention of getting to know your deck. After you put them down and see the top card, go through the guidebook and read the meaning.
Now, if your someone who knows how to channel or work with your clairsentiece, clear feeling, or Claircognizance clear knowing, then you may not need the booklet as much. It still a great way to get to know the deck energy. Of course it's your choice either way, but I would not recommend reading for another person right after you have brought the deck. For it's like getting two strangers to work together and expecting great results.
Strengths and weakness.
Not everybody likes hearing their own flaws and I am one of them, but it is handle to know the self. So nobody else can use your traits behind your back. Strength and weakness will help you get to know what you are good at and what you have trouble doing. Of course you can meditate after this to see if they resonate with you. Don't dwell on he idea that you are bad at something and try to make it perfect. One perfection does not exist and two, you will learn to grow with time.
Shadow work
To me shadow work is getting to know your shadow self. How the trigger may have stater, how it makes you feel and how to heal it.
Energy reading
I like doing energy readings, it shows my current energy and how I feel during this moment. It may also show what project you are working on.
Family karma or self karma
This one will take a bit longer then the rest, since you may need to spend some time with your family, to watch and see how they react to certain things. If lucky enough knowing family history would also be important in this reading.
Twin flames or soul mates
Love readings are not normally something I do, so this is based on watching other people on YouTube doing these sorts of readings, but it is possible. Please also remember soul mate or twin flames are not always about finding love, when it comes to twin flames and soul mate readings. This can just be a deep connection you may feel when it comes to people in your life. I do recommend though buying decks which are based on the idea of love. You can do this sort of reading with any other deck, but the love decks may give you a better insight.
Past lives
Meditation is normally offer to those who wish to know about their past lives, but one can do it with card readings as will. However, they are a bit tricky since you don't know what past life you may get. Think of the lucky winner in a hat draw, where its out of randomness and then the man pulls out your name and wham, you got a new stack of books. Yeah. While very possible to do a past life reading with tarot or oracle cards, it may come down to what past life wants you to step forward.
Unless you already know about one past life and want to see what else there is to know. Why so complicated? It's one big puzzle, and the information handled is just pieces of that said puzzle. If you been on earth more then once, then you may end up with all different types of information from different lives. Which is why meditation is probably the best, you may also end up getting past lives flash backs after these sorts of reading. Which to me is normally a relief, since the life was pin pointed.
Reading for dead pets or family members
Maybe my light flicking is because I need a new light bolt, right at the very moment I'm asking a question about a past over loved one. I would not recommend this to newbies, since it may backfire. If you wish to do a reading for a past over loved one or animal, I would recommend the following. Know shielding, know your spirt guides, banishing, cleansing, have a space and protective crystals.
I would also have some sort of candle as will. The reason why you should know all this stuff before trying to talk to the dead, is because again it can backfire. If you don't know what your getting into, then you may bring in something that's not all to friendly. Don't think for a minute that spirt won't trick you, there are some who will do just that and are very skilled at it.
Cleansing and shielding you should know by now, shield for protection and cleansing to cleanse yourself and your space. Banishing just invade those nasty sprits decided to step in on your thunder. Knowing your spirt guide, or guardian angel during this work will become handle. It's like asking someone, to lead them to the next new coffee shop and it's a extra protection. Same with protective crystals, will add that nice layout.
You can see if their is a message they want to share, their likes or dislikes. If the spirt does not wish to speak then respect it, thank it and be done with the reading. No question ask, just close it. This is out of respect. Like asking someone questions about their life, and pushing their buttons.