Alright, let’s talk about picking out that first tarot deck. It felt like a big deal when I started. I was curious about tarot, heard people talking about it, and thought, why not give it a try? Seemed like it might offer some perspective, you know?
So, the first step was actually getting some cards. I figured I’d just hop online and grab a deck. Simple, right? Wrong. Man, it was overwhelming. There were thousands of them! Decks with cats, dragons, minimalist designs, super elaborate fantasy art… I didn’t even know where to begin. My head was spinning a bit, honestly.
I started reading beginner guides and forums, and one name kept popping up everywhere: Rider-Waite-Smith. Or RWS. People said it was the standard, the best for learning because most books and resources use its imagery and system.
Looking at the Classic
Okay, fair enough. I looked up the original RWS deck. The yellow box one. And… well, it wasn’t really grabbing me. The art felt a bit dated, kinda stiff. I respected it as the original, but I just didn’t feel a connection looking at those images. I knew if I didn’t like looking at the cards, I probably wouldn’t stick with learning them.
Finding a Middle Ground
So my next thought was, maybe I can find a deck that uses the RWS system but has different artwork? A clone, I guess they call it. That seemed like the best of both worlds. I’d get the structure everyone recommended for learning, but with pictures I actually liked.
I started searching specifically for RWS-based decks. This narrowed it down, but there were still tons! I spent hours just scrolling through images online. I looked at things like:
- Clarity: Could I generally tell what was happening in the picture? Did it seem to hint at a meaning?
- Vibe: Did the overall style feel right for me? Too dark? Too cutesy?
- Connection: Did I just plain like looking at it?
Making the Choice
I kept coming back to a couple of decks. One was really modern and bright, another had more of a gentle, storybook feel. I compared key cards, like The Fool, the Ten of Swords (always a dramatic one!), and some of the court cards.
In the end, I went with a deck that had clear, relatively modern illustrations. The people looked like people, the scenes were easy to interpret at a glance, and it just felt approachable. It wasn’t the original RWS, but it followed its structure closely. It came in a sturdy box with a little guidebook, which felt helpful too.
Getting Started
When the deck arrived, I was pretty excited. I opened it up, and the cards felt good in my hands – not too big, not too small, easy to shuffle (after I broke them in a bit). Looking through the pictures again, I felt happy with my choice. It felt like my deck, you know?
Now, actually learning the meanings? That’s a whole other journey I’m still on. But having a deck I genuinely enjoy looking at makes it way easier to pick it up every day.
So yeah, that was my process. If you’re starting out, the RWS system is definitely helpful, but don’t feel locked into the original deck if it doesn’t speak to you. Find an RWS-based deck with art you connect with. That connection makes a surprising difference. Good luck!
