How to Select the Right Tarot Deck for Yourself

Are you just starting out with Tarot cards and looking for a good Tarot deck that would stay with you for many readings to come? At first glance, it might seem easy to pick one, because there will certainly be a deck whose design you will like. However, things are not that simple. With so many decks available out there, it is very easy to get lost. That is why we have prepared these tips to help you select the right Tarot deck for you. Follow these steps, and you will surely be happy with your Tarot deck.

Your first Tarot deck

It is really a dilemma in the Tarot world whether you should buy your first Tarot deck or not. Many believe that your first deck should be given to you as a gift and that buying one will bring bad luck. However, for many beginners this is hard to achieve – what should you do if you do not have Tarot readers among friends or family?

Ignore prejudices and buy your first deck yourself. It is more important to have a strong connection with your cards rather than worry about their origin. These days there are many decks available online, so perhaps someone close to you can gift you a deck you like. If you buy your deck from a physical store, you can also hold various decks in your hands, feel their energies and material of the cards.

Choose the Tarot deck that resonates with you

It happens often that your first deck might not be the right one for you. Whether you have not found the one you liked, or you simply wanted to learn first and gotten the classic Rider-Waite-Smith deck, the result is that you may have ended up with the deck that you don’t like. Perhaps the imagery does not speak to you, or maybe there is something else that does not let you have an intuitive connection with the cards.

It is OK when things like that happen, but you will work with your first deck for a while during your learning. So, it is important that it resonates with you. That’s why you should look for a deck that you connect with on a personal and intuitive level. Look through designs of the cards online before buying a deck to make sure the imagery is appealing to you.

Make sure you understand the imagery of the Tarot deck

For experienced readers, this will not be that much of a problem, although there are many new and old decks that have confusing and unclear designs. Think about your level when choosing a Tarot deck. Go through cards one by one if you are buying your deck in the store and find their photos if you choose to purchase the deck online.

Ask yourself these questions:

• Do you like the design?
• How do the images, colors, and patterns make you feel?
• Are there similar decks that look more appealing to you?

Even the traditional Rider-Waite-Smith deck has so many variations to choose from that you can easily find a classic deck that works for you, unless you feel more adventurous. When looking at the cards, make sure to go through all of them, because in some decks Major and Minor Arcana might have slightly different designs.

Think about how you will use your Tarot deck

Some Tarot decks are pretty expensive, so before investing in one, think about how you will be using it. Will it be a deck just for your personal use or would you like to perform readings for others?

Personal Tarot decks

For personal decks, it is important that you feel comfortable enough using the deck both when you feel good but also when you are down.

Tarot decks to perform readings for others

If this is the case, think about what types of readings those will be. Your friends or family may be most likely unfamiliar with Tarot cards, so look for a deck with imagery that will be easy to follow and understand even without experience. Otherwise, they might get lost in the readings, as they cannot relate to the cards.

Choose the size of the Tarot deck

A Tarot deck that is right for you should have the size you are comfortable with. Many decks are printed on paper sized 70×120 mm, which means such a deck is slightly larger than traditional decks of playing cards. This size is seen as optimal for Tarot readers because it is easy to fit in the hands and the cards do not fall out when you shuffle the Tarot deck.

You can also consider different decks for different occasions. You can get larger sized decks if you are performing readings for someone with vision problems or if you are doing group readings. A regular-sized Tarot deck will be perfect for face-to-face or personal readings. But you can also have a mini Tarot deck in case you need to do a quick draw while you are on the road.

Traditional Tarot deck or modern Tarot deck?

Last but not the least, it is worth mentioning the difference between choosing a traditional or modern deck for your readings.

Traditional Tarot decks

Some Tarot readers enjoy researching information about historic Tarot decks like the original Rider-Waite-Smith or decks from further back like Tarot de Marseille. However, these Tarot decks are not easy to understand for everyone, and especially Minor Arcana can become a challenge.

Modern Tarot decks

Modern decks have more narrative elements in their imagery, so even though their designs are original and very different from traditional decks, they are often very easy to understand. Consider your Tarot level and your design preferences and how much time you can invest in researching and learning your cards.

Keep in mind that there is really no wrong way of choosing a Tarot deck. It is a very personal experience, so it all depends on your intuition and feelings. If your first deck was not the right one for you, do not worry, because knowing these tips can help you make the right choice next time. Remember that no matter what, having a strong connection with your cards is most important. Your deck might be old and weary, but if it resonates with you, you would not want to change it for any other.