How to choose your first deck

No, it doesn't have to be a gift. It has to be one you love (and one that won't fall apart in your hands).

Walking into an esoteric shop to find your first deck (or onto the internet, which is even worse) is like walking into a bakery when you're starving. You want everything. You've no idea where to start. So let's bring a little order to things.

A little history

Tarot was born in Italy around 1440-1450, and it was born as a card game: the tarocchi. The Visconti-Sforza deck is one of the oldest that survive. Using it for divination came quite a bit later, at the end of the 18th century in France, with Court de Gébelin in 1781 and Etteilla shortly after. So it started out keeping the nobility entertained after dinner and ended up on our reading tables. Quite the career.

The three big systems

Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS): published in 1909. Designed by Arthur Edward Waite and drawn by Pamela Colman Smith (and the fact that Pamela hardly ever gets a mention is, frankly, a crime). It was the first popular deck with scenes on every card, minors included, so you learn just by looking. Almost every book and website uses it as a base. It's the one I read with, and there's a reason for that.
Marseille: a tradition from the 17th and 18th centuries. The minors are "pips", meaning you see five cups and that's it, no scene at all. You read more by number, suit and colour. And watch out, because here Justice is 8 and Strength is 11, the other way round from the RWS.
Thoth: by Aleister Crowley and Frieda Harris, painted between 1938 and 1943 and published in 1969. Astrology, Kabbalah and alchemy by the bucketload. It renames cards (Adjustment for Justice, Lust for Strength, Art for Temperance, Aeon for Judgement, Universe for World) and the court cards are Princess, Prince, Queen and Knight. It's gorgeous, but I wouldn't pick it to start with.

The gift myth

"Your first deck has to be given to you." Well, no. There's no historical basis for that at all, because tarot started out as a game you could buy pretty much anywhere. Buying it yourself is an act of intention too, and a good one. And if you sit around waiting for someone to gift you one, you might be waiting till the cows come home.

How to choose

The images should speak to you the moment you see them. If a single card leaves you cold, imagine 78.
Size: a standard deck is about 7 × 12 cm. If you have small hands, go for a pocket or mini edition, because shuffling really shouldn't be an extreme sport.
It should come with a booklet, or at least there should be guides for that system.
Sturdy card stock, matte or with a linen finish, so the cards don't stick together when you shuffle.

RWS clones: your best friends

If the classic Rider-Waite doesn't catch your eye, don't worry, there are hundreds of "clones". Same system and same meanings, just different art: gothic, animals, watercolour, comic… They're perfect for beginners, because everything you learn will still apply. I've got an illustrated Rider-style one, La Chispa ("The Spark"), and it's as playful as they come.

Watch out for fakes

If the price looks too good to be true, it probably is. Cheap copies give themselves away straight away with thin card, dull colours, blurry lettering or badly cut edges. Personally I'd much rather have a simple little original deck than a pirated "big name" one that's ready for the bin after two weeks.

Your checklist before buying

Look at at least ten cards from the deck (and find photos of all of them, not just the pretty ones on the box).
Check which system it follows: RWS, Marseille or Thoth.
Have a look at the size and finish.
Buy from a shop or publisher you trust.
When it arrives, introduce yourself. Do a spread so you can get to know each other. And if you want to start off on the right foot, here's how to ask the tarot good questions.

Once it's in your hands, the glossary is there so you can learn card by card, no rush. Do tell me which one you went for. 🐦‍⬛