Tarot Lesson 3

Choosing a Tarot Deck for yourself

Now that you have a basic understanding of what a Tarot deck is, and before we delve deep into the various uses and how to go about them, we should talk about choosing the right deck for you.  

There is no “beginner's tarot deck” that everyone has to start with, contrary to what you might read in some books or on the internet. Side note, you really need to assess most things you read on the internet because they literally let anyone write stuff there. I mean, like anyone. *insert shifty eye emoji here*

Okay, so decks. There are more traditional decks, there are wild, fun decks, there are decks with just about every theme you can think of. If you're looking for a personal deck, something to use to read for yourself and maybe your friends, pick something that excites you – fairies, dragons, angels, beer, whatever – and do a search online. You'll probably find a deck for it.

There are some great resources for finding a deck (I will list them at the end of the lesson). But the first thing you have to figure out before you start shopping is WHAT are you using the deck for? Are you studying the symbolism? Are you planning to read for yourself or others? Do you just want one because they're cool looking? (Have a peek back at lesson 2 if you haven't figured that out by this point.)

If you are getting a deck for studying the symbols and traditional meanings of the Tarot, these are some good “classic” decks: Rider-Waite, Thoth Tarot, Universal Tarot, Universal Waite Tarot, Ancient Tarot of Marseilles. But these are by no means the only ones, nor even a very wide selection of what is available.

My method for picking a deck is pretty simple. I like to get decks that have themes I find exciting or interesting. Then I look at pictures of the deck and ask myself if I find these pictures to be appealing in any way. If I think the deck is unappealing, I won't enjoy working with it and it won't be as effective a tool. I also have to be careful because "oh my god I LOVE this art" doesn't always translate to being able to connect with and use the deck. I've learned that the hard way and have ended up with more than one deck (something like 20 or 30 or maybe more in my lifetime!) that was just taking up space because I liked the art but didn't vibe with it. Many of them I ended up giving away to friends or selling online, so if you end up with a deck that just doesn't work for you, that is an option.

And on that note, I'd like to point out that used decks are perfectly fine, as long as they are in decent condition. Many people buy a deck based on the two or three pics of the cards that are on the package but discover when they open the deck that it's not at all what they were expecting. Stores won't take back opened decks, so they're either stuck with the cards forever or they have to sell or give the deck away. Also, a deck that is great for you now might not be so awesome in a couple of years. Rather than leaving them sitting on a shelf, never to be used again, putting them up for sale online or passing them on to someone else is a great way to recycle a deck.

It's up to you what you are comfortable with. Some people (especially those who are practicing witches, at least from my experience) are not comfortable with buying or selling used decks. That's fine. You shouldn't buy something you're not comfortable with, but if you prescribe to this school of thought, then selecting a deck should be something you take a little longer on, because it's frustrating as hell to feel like you wasted money on a deck that seemed good but turned out to be total crap for you. And we aren't all fortunate enough to have a community of fellow tarot enthusiasts to swap decks with. So make sure you know where you stand before you make the purchase so as not to waste your resources or create frustration that might put you off Tarot altogether. 

But the most important thing is that you aren't comfortable using a deck some one else already has, don't buy one. There are many, many options for getting new decks.

 You can do a cleansing or have a cleansing done (if you aren't the magickal type) to get any residual energy off a deck if that makes you feel better. I personally just sit with a new-to-me deck and shuffle it for a few minutes, connecting to it and getting my energy all over it. I've never had a problem with hand-me-down or bought used decks after that. But I have also done a cleansing on brand new decks because of the shop I picked them up from or (one time) because it arrived in the mail with an icky vibe. 

If you want to do a cleansing, there are many, many ways to go about it but I won't bore you with them here. You can do a quick google search and find dozens of options from super simple "put it in the window where the moon can see it" to more complicated rituals that take weeks to complete. You shouldn't have a problem finding what suits you.

Places to Buy a Deck

Amazon.com is a pretty great and easy resource for new decks. There are a handful of used decks there (and I've had great success selling used decks there myself). But searching and finding what you want is super easy. And there are reviews that often have more images of the cards so that you can make a better informed decision on if you want the cards or not.

Local New Age or Metaphysical shops also tend to have a good selection of decks. Chances are, you are already familiar with your local shops. And if you want to support small businesses, this is a great place to get a deck. You might spend a couple bucks more than online, but you can physically pick out a deck and that is fun. Also, ask the shop owners if they can order specific decks for you if they don't carry what you are looking for. Many of them can and will. There are literally hundreds of decks in existence so no shop can carry them all.

Facebook Marketplace and eBay are excellent sources of used decks (and sometimes new as well). Most sellers are readers or former readers who are unloading decks that aren't suited to them. On that note, you might check out local used book stores. I've found some pretty great decks hidden away in the back stacks. In particular, there is a chain of shops called Half Price Books (you probably have one near you if you are in the Midwest), and they have a website where you can order online. I've found a couple of decks and seen dozens on the shelf, as well as some really great books that provide resources for learning Tarot and refining your skills.

If you want to preview decks, either do a Google search and check out the image results or you can go to Aeclectic.net where they have many,. many decks you can browse and they offer links to where you can buy them. Just be aware that they don't sort out the indie decks (that can be very expensive) from the mass produced ones.

Now, in the last couple of years, Tarot decks have popped up in some unusual places as independent artists create and publish their own without the backing of a publishing house. Etsy and Storenvy (and other online small business shop fronts) have many indie decks. Kickstarter is a fantastic place to get in on pre-orders of decks and often be able to follow the creative process of an artist as they design the cards. There is also a site called thegamecrafter.com that makes games, but their storefront has tarot decks as well.

Though my list is pretty full, this is by no means a comprehensive list of where you can get Tarot decks. 

A few final tips for buying -- 

I'd start with where you are comfortable looking and shop around. If you're an avid Amazon buyer, that is where you start. If you are all about small businesses, then shop local with New Age or Metaphysical stores. If you like supporting indie artists, then Etsy or Kickstarter would be for you. You can branch out later.

Know your budget! There are decks you can get for $5, but then there are some that can go up to over a $1000! Some decks are collector's items, or ultra rare, or lined in gold. Whatever the reason, there is a huge range of prices. You need to know when you start shopping what you are willing to spend and, whenever possible, sort your results accordingly. You really don't want the heartache of falling desperately in love with a deck that costs $95 when all you have to spend is $30. 

And, unless you are a very strict traditionalist (and if you're here, I doubt that you are!), you are probably going to end up with a collection of decks as time goes on. Be open to that. It's Okay. You are allowed to have more than one deck. I wouldn't suggest starting out with a dozen though. Start with one, get comfortable, then add to your collection at a pace that suits you. Some people only get one new deck every few years as they run across the ones that they can't live without. That's me now. But other people are 20-something me and buy every deck that strikes their fancy, sometimes two or three or seven on a single shopping trip. And that's okay too if that's where you're comfortable.

That about covers how you can pick a deck and where you can go to get one. 

You can always drop a question on my Facebook pinned "ask me anything" post or shoot me a private message there.

Check out my profile for other tarot lessons, my FAQ and common words pages, and various other blogs.