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There are many ways to read tarot cards and many variants of the tarot system, but no matter which ones you use, you’re going to need a tarot deck. When I was starting out with the tarot, it took me ages to actually start because I wasn’t sure what tarot deck I was supposed to use. Tarot decks for beginners run from cute, anime-themed decks to the more traditional Rider-Waite. Some people recommended picking art that “resonates with you” but others insisted that I should start with the Rider-Waite deck.
Dozens of decks later and I can confirm you don’t need to start with the Rider-Waite tarot deck, but there are some key things you should consider when choosing your first deck. Here, we’ll be going over how to choose your first deck, some recommendations on easy beginner’s tarot decks, and the pros and cons of not choosing the traditional Rider-Waite deck.
What to Look For in a Tarot Deck as a Beginner Tarot Reader
Choose a Deck With Clear Symbolism
There are several types of tarot decks. The most common ones are based on the traditional Rider-Waite deck. You’ll know a deck uses this system if it has cards like ‘King of Cups’ or ‘Judgement’, you’re looking at a Rider-Waite deck. A second runner-up, but nowhere near as popular, is the Thoth tarot which features court cards labeled ‘Princess’ or ‘Prince’ and major arcana cards labeled ‘Adjustment’. If a deck does not have illustrated minor arcana cards, sometimes called ‘pips’, and instead only feature the corresponding symbols in their number (i.e eight wands for 8 of Wands), you’re likely looking at a Marseilles tarot deck.
While you should definitely go with whichever tarot system you like, most people will find the Rider-Waite tarot deck the easiest to start with because of the cards’ narrative illustrations. The symbols, human figures, and general atmosphere of each card also make it easy to infer meaning even if you don’t know much about numerology or the Hermetic Qabalah.
If you don’t like how the original Rider-Waite decks look, you can opt for a deck that’s based on Rider-Waite symbolism but has its own art style such as the Modern Witch tarot (which we’ll talk about later in this article).
Avoid Decks With Art Not Specifically Made With Tarot in Mind
Adapted decks that take existing art and try to match them with one of the tarot cards can be pretty hit or miss. There are great ones, sure, but if you’re new to reading tarot, it’s best to steer clear of these to avoid situations where you end up picking a deck that’s hard to read at a glance.
The Dungeons and Dragons tarot deck, which we used in our annual tarot spread article, does not clearly reflect the symbolism of the cards they correspond to. Note how, in the image shown previously, Seven of Intelligence (Swords) doesn’t have any swords in the illustration. If anything, the staff the man holds in the image would make it seem like Ace of Wands, if not for the label that says otherwise.
Pick a Deck That Speaks to You
Even after having said all that, the most important thing about choosing a deck is to pick one that speaks to you. if you find that you want to start reading with the Thoth system — even an indie version of the Thoth deck! — then, by all means, do it. Tarot is your self-discovery journey.
4 Best Tarot Decks for Beginners
Aside from the already well-known Rider-Waite deck, there are several tarot decks for beginners out there that take the same straightforward symbolism and slap a fresh coat of paint on it. Here are some of our favorite beginner’s tarot decks.
1. The Modern Witch Tarot Deck
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Bright, beautiful, and easy to read, Lisa Sterle’s Modern Witch tarot deck turns the old-fashioned images of the Rider-Waite deck into something modern and fresh without losing its symbolism. The deck swaps in the Chariot (VII)’s vehicle for a motorcycle and genderswaps the mostly-male figures in the deck.
This might not be your cup of tea, but for some cards, it goes a long way in shifting attention from the personal to the cosmic. For example, the Emperor (IV) is a woman with ram’s horns, symbolizing Aries, wearing a suit. It turns the focus away from the idea of the Emperor as a literal man to the concept of the Emperor as a masculine archetype of overt power and structure.
2. Tarot for Kids
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Tarot for Kids is a beautifully illustrated beginner’s tarot deck created by Theresa Reed and Kailey Whitman. The deck features vivid images that add a lighthearted tone to the more serious Rider-Waite deck. Before you brush it off as being just for kids, the deck is symbolically deep enough for even seasoned readers. Notice how The Wheel (of Fortune) swaps the wheel for an ouroboros, the snake that eats its own tail and constantly regenerates itself.
What makes it a kid’s deck is that it swaps some of the scarier images of the Rider-Waite deck for more neutral terminology and imagery. If you find yourself always getting cold feet when you see the Tower, the Devil, or Death in your readings, this deck can help you work past that fear and see the cards for what they truly mean.
3. Cat Tarot
Speaking of making scary cards less terrifying, have you ever seen a cuter Tower card than the one in the Cat Tarot? Illustrated by Megan Lynn Kott, the Cat Tarot is a beginner-friendly tarot deck for readers who want to remember their favorite friend while reading their tarot spreads. The deck offers a new perspective for some of the cards as well. Just look at Justice not being happy about you breaking his boundaries and the Hermit who’s enjoying the simple joys of his own company and a paper bag.
4. Everyday Tarot Mini Tarot Deck
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When you’re shuffling for a love tarot spread about that cute barista you keep seeing at your local Starbucks, you don’t need your cards slipping out of your sweaty, shaking hands. The Everyday Tarot Mini Tarot Deck is a smaller version of Biddy Tarot’s already popular Everyday Tarot that cuts down the traditional deck size to a more travel-friendly format. This makes the cards small enough to fit entirely in the palm of your hand, making rifle shuffling so easy.
Should You Choose the Rider Waite Deck if You’re a Beginner?
Let’s address the elephant in the room. There’s a lot of pressure to start with the Rider-Waite deck just because it’s the traditional deck. For the most part, the arguments in favor of the Rider-Waite are right. It is easy to read and starting with it makes it easy to read any deck that’s based on it, but there are also reasons to choose a different deck or even an entirely new system.
The Pros of Starting With a Rider-Waite Tarot Deck
Many beginner readers start their tarot journey with the Rider-Waite tarot deck because of the following reasons:
- The Rider-Waite tarot deck has the easiest symbolism to read out of the other tarot systems.
- The Rider-Waite tarot deck has a storytelling-based approach to conveying its messages, making it possible to read even if you don’t know anything about the mysticism behind the cards.
- Most tarot decks on the market are based on the Rider-Waite tarot system, so learning the Rider-Waite tarot means you’ll be able to read them all.
- The Rider-Waite tarot deck is widely and readily available as opposed to other decks which may be harder to get a hold of, especially if they’re indie versions of Thoth decks.
The Cons of Starting With a Rider-Waite Tarot Deck
Despite the pros of starting your tarot practice with a Rider-Waite tarot deck, there are cons to it that may make you want to consider other decks:
- The symbolism can be scary and fear hinders understanding. Rider-Waite deck cards such as the Three of Swords, Ten of Swords, and the Tower are so ominous that fear of them blocks a new reader from connecting with the deeper symbolism of the cards instead of just reading them as ‘bad’ cards.
- The original Rider-Waite deck is mostly male, Caucasian, and heterosexual in its messaging which can be difficult to connect with if you have different lived experiences.
- If you’re interested in more esoteric concepts such as Qaballah, the Thoth system may be more interesting to you later down the line.
Just as there are no bad tarot cards, though, there’s really no bad deck to start with, just decks that aren’t the best fit for you at the moment. As they say, trust your intuition when picking tarot decks for beginners.