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If you are beginning a study of Tarot, the first thing you need is a deck! Most people find this to be a challenging decision. They have not yet begun study, and have difficulty choosing a pack. They think, "Without knowing something of Tarot, how can I choose a good deck?" However, all decks are "good" decks. Every Tarot deck has something to offer someone. The key to finding a deck for yourself is finding what you need from a Tarot deck.
There are hundreds of decks in print, and many more being published each year. Each creator has a personal vision of Tarot, and its symbols. As a beginning reader, your job is to decide how you view the world around you, and what your spiritual beliefs are. Since you are considering Tarot, you must already have a conception of what this tool is. Make an effort to describe this conception for yourself. What do you want to use your deck to accomplish? Are you interested in finding a spiritual direction? Do you want to use your cards for divination? Will you be reading for other people? The answers to these questions will help you decide which deck will be right for you.
Tarot decks can be divided into five categories. These are Medieval, Rider, Thoth, Conceptual, and Modern Fantasy. The Medieval Tarot decks are those with the symbolism of the earliest known decks. These are usually more difficult to use for learning. They generally do not show scenes on the Minor Arcana cards, but have the symbol of the suit instead. For example, the Five of Cups would simply show five cups. Medieval decks are usually quite good for divination, or "fortune telling."
The Rider-type decks are either those based on the original deck created by Arthur E. Waite and Pamela Coleman-Smith, or patterned after them. They are called "Rider" because this was the original publisher for the deck. This type of deck was the first published to show scenes on the Minor Arcana cards. They have become the modern traditional type Tarots. Most show the Major Arcana Eight as Strength and Eleven as Justice. Most symbolism has a Christian theme, or is easily understood by those of a Christian background. This type of deck is good for divination, spiritual seeking or guidance.
The Thoth type decks are quite similar to both the Medieval and Rider type decks. However, they utilize color and near abstract shape to communicate the messages of Tarot. These shapes and colors produce an emotional response in the reader. The Thoth Tarot was created by Aleister Crowley, a prominent occultist of the twentieth century, and Lady Frieda Harris. They use more arcane symbolism than the Rider or Medieval decks. The Strength and Justice cards are opposite from the Rider deck. Major Arcana Eight is Justice, and Eleven is Strength in these decks. Like the Rider decks, Thoth type decks are good for receiving spiritual direction, or divination.
The Conceptual Tarots use themes from diverse cultures or the creators’ imaginations. Some are based on Native American Themes, Goddess, Celtic, or Nordic traditions. There are other themes, such as herbs, crystals or modern symbols which reflect the traditional Tarot messages. Many of these actually fall into the categories above as well as this one. This type of deck is usually best suited for personal spiritual purposes, but can also be used for divination.
Modern Fantasy Tarots have themes such as unicorns, dragons, and fairies. They may also fall into the first four categories. If you have a love for the particular theme of the deck, it may be the type you should use. This type of deck is usually best for personal use, unless the person you are reading for shares your love of this particular fantasy.
When choosing your deck, try to find a shop which allows you to handle an entire sample deck. If you do not live in an area which these shops can be found, there are many online catalogs or web sites which show examples from decks. Look at the imagery on the cards. If it is appealing, and you can get a feel for the meaning of the card from the title and illustration, then you may have found your deck. Examine as many decks as possible before settling on a particular deck. Your deck should be the one that you feel drawn to, or feel a connection with.
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