Tarot is a form of divination that has been used for centuries to gain insight and guidance in life. It consists of 78 cards, divided into two main categories: the Major Arcana, which contains 22 cards, and the Minor Arcana, which contains 56 cards. The Major Arcana represent the overarching themes and patterns in our lives, while the Minor Arcana explore the more specific, day-to-day aspects of our experiences.
As a beginner in the world of tarot, the number of available decks can be overwhelming. Each deck has its own unique artwork, symbolism, and energy, which can greatly impact the reading experience. This is why it’s important to choose a deck that resonates with you and your personal style.
In this article, I will guide you through 15 tarot decks that are perfect for beginners. Whether you’re looking for a deck with vibrant colors and bold imagery, or one with a more traditional feel, this list has something for everyone. From the Rider-Waite deck to the Wild Unknown Tarot, each deck on this list has been selected for its ease of use and clarity, making them perfect for those just starting out on their tarot journey.
So, if you’re ready to dive into the world of tarot, keep reading. I’ll help you find the perfect deck to start your journey and answer any questions you may have along the way.
Getting Started with Tarot Reading: The Rider-Waite Tarot
The Smith-Waite Centennial Edition Tarot Deck
The Rider-Waite deck is a classic tarot deck that is perfect for beginners who are looking to choose their first deck. This deck was first published in 1909 and remains one of the most popular tarot decks in the world.
The Smith-Waite Centennial Edition tarot deck is a reproduction of the original deck featuring soft and muted colors. The images are easy to interpret, making it a great option for those new to tarot readings. Its longevity and popularity are testaments to its quality, and its timeless imagery is sure to continue to captivate and inspire for generations to come.
Rider-Waite Reimagined: Tarot Decks for the Modern Seeker
The Light Seers Tarot
The Light Seers Tarot deck features bright and vibrant illustrations which are set in the contemporary world. The deck is inspired by traditional tarot symbolism, but with a modern twist. One of the key features of this deck is the way it incorporates diverse representation, including people of different races, cultures, and genders, which makes it an inclusive deck.
The Light Seers also comes with a little guidebook that provides in-depth explanations of each card, but the true added value to this deck is that the full explanations are accessible online: to check the meanings of the cards you just have to go to the Light Seers Tarot website.
Personally, this is one of my favourite summer decks, since I get that fresh and sunny vibe from its illustrations. Overall, the Light Seers Tarot is a fun and engaging deck to work with, and its style is sure to resonate with many novice readers.
The Modern Witch Tarot
The Modern Witch Tarot deck is perfect for beginners as it offers a modern and inclusive take on the traditional tarot. Inclusivity is a standout feature of this deck: a diverse cast of characters is displayed, including people of different ethnicities, gender expressions, and abilities. The deck also celebrates womanhood and focuses on the female figure featuring vibrant illustrations that are steeped in magic. The imagery is intuitive and accessible, with a modern aesthetic that makes it easy for beginners to feel connected to the cards.
The Fountain Tarot
The Fountain Tarot deck is a visually stunning deck that is perfect for beginners who are looking for something different from the traditional tarot. The deck features original, abstract, and ethereal oil paintings, creating a dreamlike atmosphere that is both captivating and evocative. The illustrations’ fluidity and movement bring the tarot to life in a way that is truly one-of-a-kind. The cards are silver-gilded and the booklet is exhaustive, including upright, reversed meanings and the history of the tarot.
It is true that its abstract style can be a bit challenging for beginners, however, it can encourage intuition and the style is perfect for those who don’t want to have the traditional tarot symbolism depicted in a literal way.
The Mystic Mondays Tarot
The Mystic Mondays Tarot deck’s vivid colors are a highlight. These lively and imaginative illustrations are sure to inspire and delight anyone who has a passion for tarot. The deck is user-friendly, with clear and concise explanations of each card, making it easy for beginners to understand and use. Despite its small size, the accompanying booklet is incredibly comprehensive and provides insightful explanations of each card and its symbolism. One of the standout features of the deck is its oleographic borders, which give the deck a shimmering, otherworldly quality that is truly eye-catching.
The Artistic Charm of Art Nouveau Decks
The Ethereal Visions Illuminated Tarot
The Ethereal Visions Illuminated Tarot is an excellent deck for beginners. The deck is illustrated in Art Nouveau style and the cards are adorned with gold leaf, a detail that gives the cards a precious feel and an aura of magic. The cards are also well-designed and have a good weight to them, making them easy to shuffle and handle. This is overall a charming and accessible deck that is sure to provide valuable insights and guidance for anyone who is ready to embark on the tarot journey. A new edition of this deck, the Ethereal Visions Tarot Luna Edition (2023), features 80 cards, always hand drawn and colored with Matt Hughes’s distinctive style. The main difference between this deck and the first one is that the revised edition includes greater diversity, and instead of gold foil, the cards are illuminated with silver foil stamping.
The Tarot Mucha
First I have to say, I wholeheartedly love the work of Czech artist Alphonse Mucha, so when I came across the Tarot Mucha, I was immediately drawn to it. This tarot deck is actually a clone of the traditional Rider-Waite tarot deck, but with a unique twist: each card is beautifully illustrated in Mucha’s Art Nouveau style.
I was lucky enough to see some of Mucha’s works in person while visiting Prague, and I was struck by the fluidity and dream-like quality of his art. The Tarot Mucha brings this same aesthetic to the tarot, making for a deck that is not only easy to read, but also visually stunning. The gold accents on each card add to the deck’s overall beauty, making it a pleasure to use and look at. Definitely recommended.
Fierce and Fun: Animal-Themed Decks
The Wild Unknown Tarot Deck
The Wild Unknown Tarot Deck is a beautifully crafted deck that has become incredibly popular in recent years. This deck is recognizable due to its stunning artwork and the bold and expressive use of lines. The black and white illustrations in the deck are simply breathtaking. The artist has used lines to create a depth and texture that is unmatched, and the impression of movement and flow in the cards is also mesmerizing and powerful.
The deck comes in a beautiful sturdy box that is designed to protect the cards and make them easy to use. The chunky book that comes with the deck is also helpful for beginners, providing clear and brief explanations of each card.
Overall, the Wild Unknown Tarot Deck is a must-have for anyone who is serious about tarot. One of the things that make this deck so special is that it is both classic and contemporary, and its popularity continues to grow as more and more people discover its beauty.
The Spiritsong Tarot
The Spiritsong Tarot Deck is a beautiful and unique animal-inspired tarot deck from the same author of the Paulina Tarot—as well as a number of other popular decks. This deck’s style is unlike any other. The artist has used a delicate palette of soft pastel colors for the animal-based design, a choice that contributes to conveying a feeling of serenity and peace when you hold these cards in your hands. The lines are delicate and intricate, and the attention to detail is incredible.
The deck draws upon the spiritual and mystical significance of animals found in shamanic cultures. It depicts animals such as wolves, foxes, eagles, and bears, which are revered for their strength, wisdom, and connection to the natural world. This type of tarot deck is ideal for those who are interested in connecting with the ancient wisdom of shamanic cultures and exploring the deeper spiritual aspects of the animal kingdom.
Personally, I find this to be one of the best animal decks out there, and it is one of my most used decks when I’m reading for clients. The little guidebook that comes with the deck is delicious: it includes upright and reversed keywords, and will guide you with ease through the process of interpreting the cards.
While it might not be your first choice now, I think it could become a valuable addition to your collection once you’ve become familiar with the traditional Rider-Waite symbolism and are open to trying something new.
Embracing Nature’s Wisdom and Magic
The Druidcraft Tarot
The Druidcraft Tarot Deck is an enchanting tarot deck that combines traditional tarot imagery with the wisdom of the druidic tradition. This deck is based on the teachings of the ancient druids and incorporates elements of nature, mythology, and spirituality into its design.
This deck has an earthy and organic feel that is both calming and inspiring. The artist has used a soft and muted palette of greens and browns, which helps you ground and connect to nature. The deck is suitable for beginners, as it is easy to use and understand.
The Green Witch Tarot
The Green Witch Tarot deck is an earthy deck that is based on traditional tarot symbolism and draws inspiration from the practice of green magic, a form of magic that is grounded in the natural world and seeks to work in harmony with it. This type of magic involves working with the elements, plants, and animals, to bring about positive change. So, this deck is perfect for those who feel a strong connection to nature and the earth.
Personally, I find that the deck’s imagery creates a feeling of familiarity and comfort, it almost feels like home. The deck is versatile and can be used for both personal growth and divination, making it a great choice for both beginners and experienced tarot readers alike.
Unleashing the Beauty of Japanese Culture in Tarot
The Sasuraibito Tarot
The Sasuraibito Tarot is a stunning and unique deck that stands out in the world of tarot. It is inspired by Japanese folklore and culture and features simple but meaningful illustrations. The deck comes in a sturdy box that also serves as a great storage solution. The cards themselves are of high quality and have a smooth and durable feel to them. They come with a gold gilding, which adds a touch of elegance. The designs are bold, and the characters are depicted in a variety of poses and environments that add to the overall feel of the deck.
This deck is really a joy to use and explore. In terms of reading these cards, I have found them to be highly intuitive and accurate. The cards have a certain energy and presence that is hard to describe but which makes them a pleasure to work with.
The Rise of Colorful Tarot Decks
The Rainbow Tarot
The Rainbow Heart tarot is an indie deck that features simple, colorful, retro-inspired illustrations, with the added detail of the holographic edge—that’s simply gorgeous! The colors are vivid, emanating universal sparkles. The cards have been hand-painted in Portland by the artist, the “multi-disciplinary” Rachel Rosenkoetter. As the artist says, the deck has a focus on readability and diversity. The artwork and the texture of the cards make for a very precious, unique deck, that is sure to captivate your heart and soul. This is much like a Rider-Waite clone, so it’s suitable for all beginners.
The deck is still available on many websites, though I recommend you have a look at the artist’s website to purchase the deck. A warning: the 4th edition of this deck is halfway sold out, but the cute pocket edition is available. Don’t miss this gem!
The Sugar Skull Tarot
The Sugar Skull tarot is a vibrant and light-hearted deck that brings a fresh interpretation of the traditional symbolism of the tarot. While being incredibly cheap, it has been also lovingly crafted to represent the Mexican celebration of the Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos). The deck is colorful and bright, and the cards have such a positive and nice feel to them.
This is the perfect choice for those who are looking forward to enhancing their self-confidence and working on self-love, as well as connecting to our ancestor’s guidance. Just keep in mind that the cards are bigger than usual and the edges are a bit sharp, so you may need to use a corner rounder if you don’t want them to hurt your hands. But it’s still a good choice if you don’t want to spend too much on your first deck, while still being able to work with the RW symbolism.
A Challenging but Rewarding Deck: Honorable Mention
The Thoth Tarot
The Thoth Tarot deck is perfect for more advanced tarot enthusiasts and those looking to delve into a more complex tarot system. Unlike the Rider-Waite deck, the Thoth Tarot uses a different system that can take some time to learn and understand. However, for those willing to put in the effort, this deck offers a wealth of insight and depth that is unmatched.
The deck features intricate and detailed illustrations that are steeped in symbolism and mythology. The deck is considered one of the most accurate tarot decks in terms of its representation of the tarot card meanings. For those looking to get started with the Thoth Tarot deck, there are many valuable study books available. These books can provide a great foundation for learning the Thoth system and can help you get the most out of your tarot readings.
So, if you’re just starting out with tarot, is the Thoth Tarot right for you? Overall, the Thoth Tarot deck is a great choice for those who are looking to take their tarot studies to the next level. However, it may not be the best choice for those who are just starting out with tarot. If you are a beginner, it may be best to start with a simpler deck, such as the Rider-Waite, before attempting to work with the Thoth Tarot.
1 Comment
Petra
I couldn’t resist commenting. Very well written!