Why the best beginner deck might be the wrong one for you
Why the best beginner deck might be the wrong one for you
Are you ready to find the best tarot deck for beginners, the one that actually suits you?
Go looking for the best tarot deck for beginners and you will meet the same answer everywhere: the Rider-Waite-Smith. There is a good reason for that. But “the best deck for beginners” and “the best deck for you” are not always the same, and that difference decides whether you really use your cards. In this article we explain why the traditional look does not work for everyone, and how to choose a deck that makes your heart beat a little faster.
Why the Rider-Waite-Smith is recommended so often
Let’s be fair first: that advice did not come out of nowhere. The Rider-Waite-Smith has some big advantages for someone who is just starting.
Its cards show clear scenes with people and symbols, even in the Minor Arcana. So every card already “tells” you something before you know the meaning by heart. Marseille tarot decks work differently: their numbered cards mainly show the suit symbols, with fewer scene details. On top of that, almost every tarot book and guide is based on the Rider-Waite-Smith style, so you will find information everywhere that fits your cards.
But that is also the catch
That very popularity can be a downside. If you do not like the images, if the style leaves you cold, you will not reach for the deck. And a deck that stays in a drawer teaches you nothing, however “beginner-friendly” it is.
“The best tarot deck for beginners is, in the end, the deck you actually pick up.”
This is the real best tarot deck for beginners
The best deck comes down to something personal: do you feel a click with the images?
- Do the cards stir something in you?: Browse through the images. Do they make you curious? Do you want to know what is happening on a card? That feeling matters more than any top ten list.
- Do you understand the images a little?: A deck is allowed to move you, but it also has to give you something to read. Very abstract or bare cards can be striking, but they sometimes give a beginner little to hold on to.
- Does the mood suit you?: Do you love soft and dreamy, or bold and earthy? A deck that matches who you are feels familiar straight away, and that makes learning far more enjoyable.
The middle path that often works
A good compromise: choose a deck that follows the clear structure of the Rider-Waite-Smith, but in a style that appeals to you. There are hundreds of such decks these days, from botanical to mystical to modern. You get the accessibility of the original, with images you want to look at.
Not sure where to start? Our Deck Matcher suggests decks that fit your visual taste.
You can’t really choose wrong
Perhaps the most reassuring part: there is no such thing as a “wrong” first deck. A deck that did not click still taught you something about what you do enjoy. Many people end up with several decks, each for a different kind of question or mood.
So do not let yourself be guided too much by what “everyone” recommends. The best deck to begin with is the one that invites you to pick it up again and again.
“The best deck to begin with is the one that invites you to pick it up again and again.”
Keep learning?
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Get the guideWant to explore further?
- Beginner’s guide to choosing a tarot deck
- Which tarot deck suits you? How to choose one
- Indie tarot decks in a new light
Ready to choose? Look through our beginner-friendly decks and see which one catches your eye.