A Beginners Guide to Purchasing Your First Tarot Deck
What's the Goal?
The first thing you need to ask yourself is: What type of personal insight are you looking for? When I first began tarot, I was often unsure what to ask the deck because I didn’t even know what I NEEDED. Do you want a deck exclusively for the relationships in your life? To focus mainly on your creative pursuits or career? Self Care? Do you want to connect more to your ancestry and find a deck that looks like you and your culture? A one-size-fits-all? Take some time to meditate on it so you can approach it with the right criteria for yourself.
My first deck was Ethereal Visions that my cousin owned. The designs were beautiful, and it was already somewhat familiar. I used it for general readings, but I began to realize that while pretty, it was rare I could connect with it on a deeper level. I ended up gifting it to another cousin, and she loves it! Don’t be afraid to give away or sell one that doesn’t fit you. As I grew in my abilities, I now have certain decks I use for certain types of readings, such as a deck exclusively for my family, my career, one for my shadow work, etc. Don’t be afraid to build a collection if you want to!
Researching:
When you begin looking, think about your aesthetic and personality. I recommend searching on Etsy or Instagram to find options. If I can avoid Amazon at all costs, I will do so, and there are millions of unique deck options! There can be pros and cons to finding a unique deck that few people own because it gives you an opportunity to really put your personal spin on it. However, it can also be a little isolating if it’s a more advanced deck without an in-depth guidebook. A guidebook is not necessary, but most beginners like to have one to refer to. I try not to rely on it too much because I tend to keep myself in a box that way. If you enjoy pop culture, perhaps a themed deck is for you! If you’re an artist, perhaps purchasing one made by an artist also will help you connect. The options are quite literally endless! Many popular tarot readers on social media have invested in creating their own and many small spiritual businesses. Your dollar will go a longer way and mean a lot more.
Recommendations:
Light Seer Tarot by Chris Anne - Vibrant colors, diverse characters, LGBTQ+ friendly, and the guide book is small but packed with great info. The pictures really help you create a narrative with your spread.
Modern Witch Tarot by Lisa Sterle - This one is very popular on Tik Tok and for good reason! The design and blue coloring of the back are very eye-catching, it’s gender fluid and showcases multiple ethnicities and clothing styles, and it is a deck I am able to use to approach almost any topic. Highly recommended!
Medicine Woman Tarot by Carol Bridges - If you are from an indigenous culture and trying to connect more with your ancestral craft, this deck is very beautiful. The Major and Minor Arcana are not the standard of the Rider-Waite tarot, but it is easy to pick up. This was gifted to me by a friend to use in service for others, and the images are one of a kind.
If you can’t stop your eye-catching a certain deck or have one on your mind often then it’s probably for you! Cleanse it, leave it overnight and then let the journey to self-discovery begin.
I offer tarot tutoring sessions over @catwithdacards for anyone who wishes to grow their abilities! I can be found here. https://linktr.ee/Catwithdacards