How to Choose a Tarot Deck 
By G. Amaral

That which you are seeking is causing you to seek. - Cheri Huber I

f you have been thinking about purchasing a Tarot deck for yourself or as a gift for someone, you may feel overwhelmed by the number of Tarot decks to choose from - - there is an explosion of new decks, which makes the selection of a deck quite exciting, but also more challenging. As you begin to look around at the different decks, you will find that this multitude of decks is a reflection of the diversity of humanity as well as an indication of the exciting rebirth of interest in the Tarot. 

Why are there so many decks? Which is the “true” deck? There are so many decks because the interpretation and creation of a Tarot deck is like any creative endeavor - - it is subject to the abilities, perceptions, conditioning and experiences of the creator. I’ve heard it said, “Reality is communally understood, but individually perceived.” In our individual reality, we perceive and portray aspects of life from our own unique vision, with our own personal interpretation. Since the 78 cards in the Tarot deck portray our earthly and spiritual journeys, the different decks embody this individual interpretation of the journey. 

The Rider Waite deck which was developed by Arthur Edward Waite and illustrated by Pamela Coleman Smith is considered to be the “standard” deck and is often considered to be a good “beginner” deck. Most decks are based on this standard since the Rider Waite is considered to be a “pure” representation of the Tarot’s symbols. There are several versions of the Rider Waite deck including the Original Rider-Waite, the Albano-Waite, the Universal-Waite and the Golden-Rider. The symbolism is the same in each of these, but the color scheme is different. When you are first starting out, it may be useful to work with a “basic” deck like Rider-Waite, especially if you are planning to memorize the meanings of the cards. Those memories can then be used to trigger your inner psychic voice. However, if you feel that a certain deck calls to you and speaks to you and allows you to access your inner voice more readily, then by all means, try it. The deck you use can be compared to the choices you make about a computer system. Certain software is more “user-friendly” allowing you to intuitively access the data within the computer more easily. Similarly, some decks will just work better for you, and if you are feeling blocked when using a certain deck, even though you have tried and tried, this may signal that it is time to choose another deck. The goal is to find a deck that “resonates” with who you are and what you believe to be the higher spiritual truths. 

So many decks! I confess, I am a Tarot deck addict. No matter how many I have, it will never be enough. Each deck is unique and marvelous in its own way. For example, there is a deck based on the life and times of William Shakespeare, the Shakespearean Tarot. There is a deck that is based on Native American legends and one based on mythological traditions, the Mythic Deck. There is a Halloween deck; there is the Russian Tarot of St. Petersburg; there is a deck that has a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural portrayal of the symbols called the Ancestral Path Tarot; a Tarot of the Cat People; a feminist deck, the Motherpeace Round Tarot Deck. There’s a deck for those interested in herbs and plants called the Herbal Tarot Deck; a deck based on the teachings of Zen called the Osho Zen Tarot Deck; a deck that incorporates astrology called the Symbolon deck; a deck that uses the game of baseball as its symbolism, the Tarot of Baseball Deck. There is a deck based on fairy tales called the Inner Child Tarot; there’s a deck based on “pop” culture called the Pomo Tarot Deck; there’s a deck based on Arthurian legends called the Arthurian Tarot Deck; a deck based on the works of Salvador Dali, a deck based on ancient Africa called the Tarot of the Orishas, and many more. It can take your breath away to think about this diversity. Each deck brings something creative, different and distinctive to the Tarot world. 

Once you settle on a deck, you should start slowly, working with only the Major Arcana for a while, until you feel comfortable with these 22 cards. When reading the cards for others, or even when you are meditating on a card for yourself, the ideal is to allow the symbols on the cards to trigger flashes of insight. The insight that is released by the Tarot’s ancient symbols then combines with the knowledge gained from studying the Tarot, and with your life experiences to produce an interpretation. Go slowly -- study a variety of books, with a variety of teachers, learn the traditional meanings for each of the Major Arcana cards, and ultimately you will be able to allow your unconscious mind to take over. Once you’ve become more adept at working with your first deck, you may want to have different decks for different occasions. For example, I have a special deck called the Illuminated Tarot which I use strictly for my own personal readings. No one has ever touched it before (other than the person who made the deck). I use a large-sized Rider-Waite deck for teaching. I use the Morgan Greer deck for doing readings for others. I use the Osho Zen Tarot deck for my daily meditations. Each of these decks speaks to me in a different way and enables me to contact different parts of myself according to the situation and goal at hand. 

Ultimately, the selection of a deck is strictly a personal choice. The deck you work with can become a part of your identity or your psyche; it speaks of who you are, what you seek from life and where your spiritual path is leading. Reading the Tarot is a creative process and you should remember that the goal is to develop and access your intuitive voice. The selection of the deck can be the first step in trusting your intuition. Quietly listen to your inner voice when you feel drawn to a certain deck. Look at several decks, experiment with different decks. Use the system that calls to you. Believe that the right deck will be drawn to you, as you will be drawn to it.