Tarot Decks - Choosing the Right One (LONG post!)

Choosing a tarot deck is important to someone new to divination.

There are those that tell you *Let the Deck Choose You* - meaning, to simply go with the one that appeals to you the most visually. While there is some truth to that, there should be a bit more to consider.

Here are samples of The Magician from eight different decks of Tarot cards. I chose these from my collection, because I think they are all representative of how heavily styled each deck can be - and how easy or difficult it can be to have a visual association of meaning for interpreting a Tarot deck if you are new to reading cards.

I couldn't fit all the cards on the scanner at once, so there are two pictures.
For the first picture -
Top Left - Legend The Arthurian Tarot (Anna-Marie Ferguson / Llewellyn)
Top Middle - Renaissance Tarot (Brian Williams / U.S. Games)
Top Right: - Faery Wicca Tarot (Kisma K. Stepanich / Llewellyn)

Bottom Left - The Robin Wood Tarot (Robin Wood / Llewellyn)
Bottom Middle - The Halloween Tarot (Kipling West / U.S. Games)
Bottom Right -  The Witches Tarot (Ellen Cannon Reed / Llewellyn)     

 Second Set of Magicians:
Left: The Ancient Egyptian Tarot - 1st Edition (Clive Barret / Aquarian)
Right: The Morgan Greer Tarot (U.S. Games)

 

If you look closely at the different decks, you'll see that many carry the same theme, yet each are distinctly different. In terms of a new reader, it is important to choose a deck that kindles an intuitive understanding of the meaning for each card. 

Common elements: 

- Male subject

- Infinity symbol

- Most have a table or altar with the symbols of all suits in the tarot deck: Cup, pentacle, wand and sword.

- Cloak or ceremonial garb denoting their status as Magician.

While it is understood that the interpretation of any Tarot card is very dependent upon where it is in the spread and which cards come before and after it, most cards carry a general meaning. 

The common meanings for The Magician include: Wisdom, Revelation, New Ideas. It can also meany trickery and deception. 

The key is to choose a deck that manifests a visual interpretation for you. 

This can be tricky if you can't look at a whole deck of cards - sometimes, there are surprises. 

For example, in the Legend - The Arthurian Tarot, interpretation of the cards is much easier if you are well versed in the Arthurian Legend, as all of the Major Arcana is represented by a person, event or idea from the Arthurian Legend. If you know the legend well, interpretation can come easier. 

The reverse can also be true. Let's look at a card deck that confuses me still yet today - despite owning it for several years: The Faery Wicca Tarot Deck. 

To those interested or immersed in Faery Wicca, or the Tuatha De Danann shamanic skills, this deck is a no-brainer. I am not, so this deck is a challenge for me. This is abundantly clear when I realized only after I began to write this blog that I had inadvertently pulled the Ridire of Tine - not the Ard Ri of Tine.

What's that, you ask? One is the knight - one is the king. Of Wands.

Yeah. You see my confusion.

It doesn't help there is an *extra* card in this deck - 00 - The Tree of Life. It is before 0 - The Fool. 

I'm not knocking this deck. I'm only illustrating how helpful it is to have an understanding of the symbols and traditions associated with any given deck. And you can't know sometimes until you buy the deck. 

Of course - you can always learn anything, and once you are proficient with Tarot cards, delving into new decks with new ideas and symbolism can actually help you to become a better card reader. But... that's down the road a bit if you're new to reading.

Let's move on to another card. Let's highlight my Ard Ri and Ridire of Tine faux pas, shall we? 

(The decks are set up as above, so I won't rename them all)

Common elements:

- Male subjects

- All wield a staff of some sort

- All are in their 'natural element' for that deck. 

- The Sun or Fire is pictured in many of the cards, though not all, or they rely heavily on the colors of the sun/fire. The element traditionally associated with this card is Fire.

Some of the cards are more visual than others. For me, The Ancient Egyptian Tarot most clearly speaks to me of the meaning of The King of Wands: Power - Unstoppable Action, Unswerving Intent, Raw Energy. The Morgan Greer Tarot, on the other hand, seems very sedentary to me. Very muted. Others I know that use this deck see it very differently: They see this card representing ideas and action that are steadfast and solid - very masculine. Their visual cue is also derived from the oak leaves on the staff - is there anything sturdier than an oak? 

This is where you must assess (once again) what helps you in visual associations. 

And, lastly - I'll profile the Five of Cups.  I didn't realize until I was done that the cards had been put on the scanner in reverse order. So.. the middle cards are the same as listed above - just reverse the right and left deck names for the first photo. The second photo lineup is correct.

So -

Top Left - Faery Wicca Tarot (Kisma K. Stepanich / Llewellyn)
Top Middle - Renaissance Tarot (Brian Williams / U.S. Games)
Top Right: - Legend The Arthurian Tarot (Anna-Marie Ferguson / Llewellyn)

Bottom Left - The Witches Tarot (Ellen Cannon Reed / Llewellyn) 
Bottom Middle - The Halloween Tarot (Kipling West / U.S. Games)
Bottom Right - The Robin Wood Tarot (Robin Wood / Llewellyn)

Common elements: 

- Pictoral representation of five cups somewhere (or ghosts in The Halloween Tarot)

- Many show the cups overturned, spilling, or laying on their side.

The traditional meaning for the Five of Cups is a time of loss, lethargy and desolation. Things didn't go as planned, or things turned out badly. 

Many of the cards pictured above easily convey the sense of loss, abandonment and loneliness. Others you have to already know the meaning of the card to interpret it - there are no visual clues, such as in The Renaissance Tarot and the Faery Wicca Tarot. 

Many decks do not utilize symbology in the minor arcana cards beyond the Court cards, (Page, Knight, Queen and King) and will simply show a numerical representation of the suit. (9 discs, 3 cups, etc.)This can be difficult starting out, but not insurmountable.

In conclusion: 

Things to consider before purchasing a Tarot Deck

- Absolutely pick a deck that appeals to your eye, but consider other things such as a natural ease of understanding any cards you can preview before purchasing the deck, particular traditions you identify with, or legends and traditions you have a working knowledge of. 

- The theme/legend/tradition for the deck can greatly alter your speed at picking up reading cards fluently. If you truly want that Arthurian Legend Deck (or whatever) but aren't that familiar with the legend, get it. Become proficient with the legend as you learn the cards. In this case, do not worry about speed but accuracy in understanding.

- Search around online for as many images of as many cards from that deck as you possibly can find: Evaluate the symbolism used and how the minor Arcana are portrayed. This may take a lot of searching, as reviewers and the publisher tends to only show photos of the most interesting cards. If all you can find are photos of Major Arcana cards online, it's a sure bet that the Minor Arcana cards are not utilizing symbolism, and they probably are not as visually interesting.

- Read reviews online extensively. I could give a complete review of every deck I own, but we'd be here all day. (Not because I own hundreds of decks, but because I can spend 5,000 words breaking down what I like and don't like about every deck of cards) Independent reviews are your best bet - ignore reviews on Amazon or any site that sells the deck. Too many people I personally know have been paid to do false reviews for numerous things - including things on Amazon. (Usually through freelancer.com or something similar) Many are good and honest reviews - but just as many are likely NOT to be. Find blogs, forums, etc - places no one generally gets compensation for reviews.

I hope that I have been able to give anyone new to divination, or new to buying Tarot decks some visual and intellectual points about choosing a deck. In the end - There is no right or wrong.

Lastly - I apologize for the images not being perfectly aligned. I have a cat who views the copier/printer/fax as his mortal enemy, and was very diligent today about trying to 'protect me' from the villainous electronic device. I was reduced to placing the cards (pull the cat off the scanner) adjust the cards on the scanner (pull the cat off the scanner) then quickly close the scanner lid (And allow the cat to stand on top of the scanner, whacking it mercilessly with his paw as it scanned) 

So, um... yeah... the cards are a little crooked and some of the scans are backward/etc.

And here is WHY:

Meet Noodle the Cat - Arch Enemy of Electronic Devices, Destroyer of Small Insects, and Master of Mayhem and Discord.

Final Disclaimer: In no way do I promote or discourage any of the decks I have profiled for you today. I am in no way associated with Llewellyn, Aquarian, U.S. Games, any of the creators, illustrators, or sites that sell any of these decks, unless you count Google Adsense - and I haven't seen them put up any Tarot decks on my ads!

These images were presented today only for illustrative purposes.