Buying A Deck

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Written By Quinn

What’s Right For You?

I’ve been interested in tarot for over twenty years. I have over fifty decks in my modest collection, although most have been bought to look at and not use. For me, the artwork is the major influencing factor when deciding what to buy. All kinds of artwork are available, from the very tacky to the exceptionally well illustrated. It’ll depend on your taste to what you choose. I would always advise going for a theme which resonates, and there are heaps of different categories; Egyptian, Vampire, Faery, Animal, Russian, and Crystal. In fact, you name it, and there’s a good chance someone has already created a deck in that field. It’s a good idea to find a deck that you want to work with. I’ve known people who tried to start off with a traditional deck, which didn’t speak to them on a symbolic level. 

The amount of information you can get from any card depends on your level of commitment. The booklet or book that comes with the cards rarely give the whole of what can be gained, but they can certainly be helpful when you start out. With this in mind, you might choose something with a substantial guidebook rather than the little white booklet that comes in deck-only versions. If a deck has been self-published there’s every chance there won’t be a booklet, but it’s easy enough to find interpretations written by one of the many tarot experts. Nowadays, with the internet, you can probably find enough sites to read through, and you should be able to see the common threads running from one reader to the next.

All cards in a layout need to be read together, and some may alter the interpretations of others. While it’s essential to learn each card thoroughly, it is more about understanding the energy behind it. When you start out, it can be a lot like learning your ABC...it takes a while before you can make words out of those letters. But it will make it easier when it comes to giving a reading because you will be able to see the small details that create the bigger picture.

Oracles can give you a good reading. One of my all-time favourites is TheFaeries Oracle by Brian Froud & Jess Macbeth. It’s a fantastic deck if you want to understand emotions and behaviour. The Lenormand has recently made a comeback and is a deck of thirty-six cards. However, some say you don’t get the clarity you need if the question is complex. Using the oracles as a break from regular tarot is certainly nice. Different decks can have different uses. And finally, please don’t listen to the stupid superstition that you can’t buy your own cards. It’s bullshit. Neither do you need to be psychic, nor a gypsy, or the seventh son of a seventh son. Just find a deck that you’re drawn to and buy it.

Ideas

One of the most popular tarot creators of recent years is Ciro Marchetti. He now has at least three decks, and they’re loved by both beginners and experienced readers. 

The Mythic Tarot is often a popular choice. It follows the journey of a mythic story within the minor arcana which some find helpful.

I love Patrick Valenza’s Deviant Moon, and I don’t think it would be too difficult to pick up as a first deck.

Youtube is now saturated with tarot readers using scores of different decks and others offering reviews.

Two websites, in particular, are brilliant for Tarot enthusiasts. Aeclectic has the most extensive online catalogue of decks available and is an essential resource for any tarot enthusiast. They don’t sell the decks but do provide links where they can. There are also reviews, a forum and card meanings. The Tarot Garden is a well-stocked online retailer of out-of-print decks and more readily available ones. The site has tarot-based games, articles, reviews and more. Be careful when buying from Amazon or Ebay; there’s a strong market in counterfeit decks. I understand deck purchase can be influenced by personal funds, but as with all things decision-related, make sure your choice is a conscious one.

Updated: 20/08/2022

 

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