The Tarot Rabbit Hole aka Choosing a Deck

Choosing a new tarot deck, especially your first deck, can be a daunting task. There are so many options! Do you get a Rider Waite? Thoth? Marseille? Something traditional? Something bright and abstract? You could literally search the internet for days looking for decks! I know this because I have done it! When you are first starting your tarot collection, or looking for that very special first deck, here are some things to keep in mind.

• What information is there for my deck? If you are just starting out, want a deck, and you are looking for tons of information to get you started, a Rider Waite deck is an excellent place to start. Most tarot books are based on this system and use depictions of this deck to explain symbolism, colors, and numerology associations.
• Do I need clear images to spark my intuition? There are many options for black and white decks, as well as, beautifully colored and intricate decks. Will this distract you? Or will this help you, allowing you to see the meanings? I found that when starting out I needed simpler images, ones where I could really see what was happening without distractions.
• Try and go to a store and handle decks. Most metaphysical shops will have sample decks out. What kind of energy comes off the cards? Can you sense the story behind the card without picking up a guide book? How do they feel in your hands? Can you shuffle them, hold them easily?
• Cost. Some decks can be pretty pricey. If you’re going to be handling and studying your deck regularly, you may want to get one that’s not going to break the bank at first, but not a super cheap one either. You want to make sure the card stock is decent so that you get a long life out of your cards.
• Look for decks that don’t startle you. If you find the images to be disconcerting you won’t want to work with it. Find one that makes you feel comfortable.
• Watch deck reviews. YouTube has a huge tarot/oracle community. You can find a deck review for almost any deck! And, most likely, you will find more than one review for each deck. It may be helpful to hear what different reviewers say on the same deck.

Overall, it’s usually ideal to begin with a Rider Waite deck, or at least a clone of one with  different artists work. You will find that study resources are most helpful with this sort of deck. Then, venture off into different types of tarot. Keep in mind that everyone is different, and that this type of deck may not work out for some, and that’s okay! You know your tastes best and you will find the deck that calls to you!