Finding Your First Tarot Deck
You have had your cards read: by a friend, by a professional reader, by someone you met at a party. You have maybe even got to touch the deck. Fascinated by the symbols and seduced by the levels of meaning you found there, you felt a yearning to learn more about the cards.
Maybe you already knew which deck you wanted; perhaps it was the first one you saw. Maybe you didn't know at first there were other types of decks. When you went to the book or magick store, you were dismayed by all the choices. Maybe you have to purchase your cards from a web site, and you don't know what deck to begin with.
What to consider
Many people have asked me how to find the correct deck for themselves. For the most part, decks aren't cheap; buying several and experimenting is prohibitive. I can't tell you the right deck for you; you need to determine that for yourself. Here are some things you can consider as you look:
- Do you practice a particular religion or spirituality?
- What types of images do you find most interesting or fascinating?
- Do you need pictures or will more abstract symbols help you remember the meanings?
- Do you have any physical disablities with suffling?
If you have a particular religious practice such as Wicce, Native American, Celtic Wicce, or Egyptian practices for instance, you might really "grok" a deck that reflects those values. Even if you just have a tug towards a certain background, finding a deck based on that mythology will help you learn more about it. If you don't have a certain specific pull, or if you are interested in many belief systems, you might want a more general deck.
If you have imagery or artistry that appeals to you, for instance,: darker colors vs. light, abstract vs. concrete, round vs. rectangel shaped, you might find yourself drawn to decks that reflect that taste. Highly visual people do better with decks that show pictoral symbols that help a person remember or even reinterpret the meanings; whereas more logical minds can relate to numbers and suits alone. Although almost all decks use pictures for the Major Arcana, some of them show the suite based Minor Arcana with just suit and number. Take that into account when looking for the deck, and try to ensure the deck you have meets your needs.
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