Tarot 101: How to select the right deck for you
This article is part of an extensive Tarot 101 guide.
The traditional way
The most traditional way to get a tarot card deck is by gifting—in other words, waiting until someone gives you a deck as a gift. That said, most modern-day tarot readers agree that you don’t need to wait until a deck magically appears in your life; feel free to walk into a bookstore or an occult store to grab your first deck—or order one online if you so choose!
If possible, purchase a Rider-Waite deck to get started (or as one of your first decks) because most modern tarot card decks have been designed based on the Rider-Waite design system.
The in-store way
Instructions:
Locate the tarot card section in whichever store you are in. Tarot cards are typically found in bookstores and/or mystical occult shops.
Close your eyes and call your guides for protection. Place your hands out and ask (either aloud or in your head), “Which deck is for me?” Allow your hands and your eyes to be guided towards a specific deck. You may be surprised by which deck(s) may call out to you.
If you are having difficulty discerning which deck is right, you may want to follow up with “Which deck is here for my greatest good and protection?” or “Which deck is most aligned with my spiritual gifts?”
Personal anecdote: As silly as it may feel to do this exercise, I will tell you that I skipped this step when I bought my first deck because it looked gorgeous. It was indeed beautiful to look at, but I could tell that the cards did not want to speak with me and guide me. Whenever I asked them a question, it felt like they were chiding me instead of helping me. I ended up giving this deck away to a friend who had better chemistry with the cards.
The online way
Instructions:
Do a web search for the style of cards you want. I recommend starting with the traditional Rider-Waite deck or a modern deck based on it, such as the Modern Witch Tarot deck. You can typically find tarot cards on Amazon, Etsy and publishing company sites such as Hay House.
Follow the instructions from the in-store section on asking which deck is meant for you. Use the colors, patterns and visual appearance of the cards as helpful cues.
Personal anecdote: I acquired many decks within my first two years of tarot reading. Due to this, I vowed not to buy more decks. However, I kept seeing a deck online—as if it were chasing after me. After weeks of seeing the same deck on social media and various sites, I took it as a sign and finally gave in and ordered it. The moment it arrived in my apartment, I realized how much synergy I had with the deck (from the colors, texture, and its spiritual energy). There was a reason why that deck kept trying to find its way into my hands; it remains one of my most used decks due to its warm aura and nature.
1:1 Tarot Coaching or Group Coaching
You can always book a 1:1 tarot coaching call or reading with me.
You can also write to me if you’d like to have me host a group tarot coaching session. I have taught workshops both virtually and in person.
Source: My work has been informed by Artis Moon and Daniela Fant