Tarot Deck Recommendations

 

Pictured from left to right: Tazama African Tarot, Smith Rider-Waite, The Radiant Tarot, Voyager Tarot, Tarot of the Four Elements

 

Finding My Deck

I can’t quite remember where I got my first tarot deck - but I know it was a Rider Waite deck. The colors we’re bright…too bright, but I loved it anyway. I think it was 2013 and I was working in NYC in corporate fashion design - and was a total newbie in the land of the spiritually minded. I had no idea what deck to buy, so I went with the classic Rider Waite deck. Maybe it’s my Sag sun or Capricorn rising - either way, I have such a heartfelt appreciation for it’s association with tradition and timelessness.

In many ways, my relationship with the Tarot has been about learning to work with my resistance

I wanted to read Tarot for so long - I’m guessing high school, but it feels blurry. It was one of those desires that seemed so incongruous with my people-pleasing, good-girl ways that I ignored it (without even realizing I was). It seemed like it wasn’t an option for me…and so it wasn’t.

It remained a burning inner urge that continued to confuse me as years rolled into decades. While I was busy re-playing my unknown, subconscious beliefs and working myself to exhaustion for a career I didn’t even want…my Spirit had me traveling the city, seeing Spiritual practitioners and taking classes. I can see now that I was finding my way to the Tarot as it was making it’s way to me.

Your Spirit always knows how to navigate you closer to what you really want…if you’re willing to learn how to get quiet and listen.

What is it that you’re listening to?

For a long time I was listening to the wrong voices. I looked to a broken culture for guidance and became an expert in the art of numbing. I tried following my inner instincts, but found them to be frozen and fearful from complex ptsd. And worst of all, I knew my intuition couldn’t be trusted.

Tarot became the practice that helped me gently tease out the truth from my confused and gaslit inner-voice. It’s still the tool I trust the most to help me (and you!) clarify inner agitation into focused direction.

Our personal journey with the Tarot usually begins begins with a single step -buying a deck.

Finding your first deck can feel intimidating (sooo many choices!)…but it can also feel incredibly exciting.

Finding Your Deck

When you purchase a deck, you are claiming your Goddess-given right to join the wonderful, wide world of the esoteric. ♡

Tarot is no longer a secret impenetrable system only for a selected few…it’s for all of us. And if you find yourself especially curious about the Tarot- just know that it is also specifically for You!

Finding your deck is about discovering a visual and philosophical language that speaks to you through imagery.

For me, collecting decks is part of the fun of having a personal Tarot practice. When I work with a new deck, I get to explore the concepts of it’s creators. Decks open me up to think differently about individual cards as well as their larger relationship to one another.

Each deck is distinct - unique to the creator and their world view. Every Tarot deck comes with it’s own energetic vibe- and you get to decide if it matches your energy. Does the imagery speak to a deeper part of you? Do the colors relax or energize you you? Does the imagery draw you into questions and personal associations ?

No matter what your interests are, where your values intersect or which philosophy you believe in- there’s a deck for you!

I’m going to share a few of the decks I use for my personal practice and offer some tips on finding your perfect deck.

I hope you enjoy!

 

“The one you seek is hard to find. She’s underneath the waking mind.”

-The Radiant Tarot, The High Priestess Card

 

My Deck

The main deck I work with is the Smith Rider Waite Centennial Tarot deck. I call it the “Smith Rider Waite” deck because this edition honors the contribution of the deck’s Illustrator, Pamela Coleman-Smith. It’s the deck that I saw the in metaphysical shops when I first dreamed of learning the Tarot and becoming a reader. It’s the imagery that called me over and over to the Tarot - until it finally stuck. It’s the deck I learned to read with and the one I use with clients. I love it’s apparent simplicity that calls us into the layered dimensions of wisdom that are embedded in each card.

I just get a feeling when I work with the Smith Rider Waite. I’ve had crazy, magical, serendipitous moments that I could barely believe - I gained trust in myself and my Spiritual connection though this deck.

What to look for in a deck?

Buying and exploring new decks has been a huge part of my growth as a reader. I buy decks I have an attraction to - even if I can ’t explain the attraction. It might be the maker’s story, it could be that the deck is a breakthrough- it challenges norms in an important way or it represents populations or bodies that aren’t typically represented.

Over time I’ve learned that I prefer decks that aren’t too literal in their representation of people and bodies. I’ve noticed that I’m better able to connect to the energy of the card’s intention if I’m not overly drawn into the physical specifics. I’ve also found it easier for my clients to to imagine themselves in the archetypal energy of cards if the figures aren’t overly detailed.

In contrast, I also know that abstraction without clear symbolism doesn’t work for me. The Smith Rider Waite is rich with visual signifiers that continue to take me deeper and deeper into the mutable meanings of each card. There is an incredible flexibility to Smith’s illustration in the Smith Rider Waite which allows the cards to adapt to the changing conditions of our lives.

Gruesome, edgy or disturbing imagery is not for me. As a trauma sensitive and informed reader, I’m very mindful of the words I use, my tone of voice and the images that I share with my clients. I am committed to transformation and growth through joy. There is no place for fear as we envision a brighter future. ☺︎

Of the decks I purchase, I believe that the intention of the maker super important so I try to choose cards I vibe with - not only the aesthetic, but also the philosophy.

Hand-feel, size, shape, paper quality and finish are all important to me. The Smith Rider Waite has become my go-to for perfect size, weight, and finish. It’s smooth, the paper is perfectly weighted making it easy to shuffle.

If I love a deck and the vision behind it, none of these elements are a deal breaker. But it usually means I can’t consider it as a client-deck contender, especially if it feels at all clumsy in my hands.

In general, I want to know that a deck was made with love, positive intention and created by someone in a deep relationship with the Tarot.

Consider choosing a deck with an energy you relate to, a story a that you like and/ or a maker that you resonate with.

“Voyager moves Tarot out of the middle ages by replacing old world, Anglo -European centered, monarchical and patriarchal beliefs and symbols with the reality of an emergent, multicultural, open and inclusive vision of planetary values.”

-Voyager Tarot

 

The Decks:

Smith Rider Waite Centennial Edition

Released in 2009 in honor of the deck’s 100th anniversary, the cards feature softer and more muted colors than the original edition of the Rider-Waite. This updated Centennial edition includes Pamela Coleman Smith’s beautiful flower illustration (also featured on the flag in the Death card) and her very cool icon signature printed on the back side of the cards. Switching from the regular Rider Waite deck to the Smith Rider Waite (aka Centennial Edition) had a profound affect on my practice, I felt more connected to a deck that honored Smith’s incredible talent, especially because her illustrations helped popularize Tarot for generations…and yet she received very little compensation for her work. The Smith-Rider-Waite comes with the standard little white book as a guide and came in a small printed metal tin. The biggest difference between the two decks is the Centennial Edition’s dustier colors (which are closer to Smith’s original paintings) and her lovely signature design on the back of cards . These subtle but meaningful changes have had a profound effect on me as a reader - I feel calmer using this deck, which allows me to stay centered and read with ease.

A big benefit to learning on or working with any edition of the Smith-Rider-Waite or regular Rider-Waite decks is that so many other Tarot decks are based on the organizational system developed in these decks. Choosing a deck that’s been around for a while also means we can find lots of support for learning how to use it . I found it so helpful (especially when I travelled for work) to be able to buy the small travel deck and the iphone app for when I wanted to practice on-the-go.

Tazama African Tarot

The Tazama African Tarot is a modern interpretation of the classic Rider-Waite that incorporates elements of African culture and spirituality. The deck is a collection of stunning modern collage art, designed by Kenyan artist Safara Wanjagi. The structure and naming system of the deck follows the Smith-Rider Waite, which makes it a natural transition if you’re already familiar with that deck. The Tazama African Tarot is beautifully designed with vibrant, sophisticated color and gold foil accents on the cards and on the card edges. The back is printed with a black & white mudcloth print and gold lettering that reads “Tarot.” The Tazama African Tarot comes with really substantial packaging - a hard case for card storage, a velvet-y fabric case, and a small hard bound guide book. The card stock is nice weight, although there’s a card coating that felt a little rubbery at first and made shuffling a bit of challenge for me - but after working with the cards, the finish has started wearing-down nicely and my shuffling just got a whole lot easier.

When the Tazama Tarot was initially released I saw that a few reviewer’s noted that they wished that the guide book contained more information on the historical meaning of specific visual cues and people on the cards…and I just discovered that the deck creators have given in abundance! You can now download this incredibly detailed and well researched guide on the card meanings from their site. I’m super grateful for this resource and excited to dig in!

Radiant Tarot

With a colorful and more playful approach to the Tarot, The Radiant Tarot guides you on a gentle, evolutionary journey. This deck is the culmination of a twelve year collaboration between English professor, Tony Barnstone and artist, Alexandra Eldridge. Designed to spark your genius and imagination, the deck is a collection of paintings to take you on a creative journey where both animals and people live side by side. Instead of the little white book we’ve come to expect, The Radiant Tarot comes with a regular sized book that serves as the guide. It’s jam-packed with descriptions, meanings, creative practices and astrological notes to help you find the specific associations and prompts that speak to your Spirit. This deck has a sweet, tender feeling too it and offers a really nurturing way of experiencing the Tarot, which I love.

Voyager Tarot

Created by James Wanless and artist, Ken Knutson in 1985, Voyager Tarot was created as a revolutionary pathway to the full realization of the reader’s abilities and potentials. Wow! The Voyager deck follows the framework of the Thoth Tarot, but re-envisions the naming systems; replacing the traditional Swords suit with “Crystals” and the Pentacles suit with the “Worlds.” This deck is deep and I’ve only just started exploring. I love an organized system…and this deck has an abundance of systems. The guidebook that comes with the deck is small but robust - it contains the Voyager philosophy, the meanings of the cards and recommended spreads in the back. Initially it was Wanless’ creative collage work that drew me to this deck (the Moon Card especially!), but I trusted it even more when I learned that he’s been challenging the status quo since 1985 and creating the tools we can use to as we move towards a new age. Wanless says “In this day and age, trusting and acting on your intuition is absolutely vital and indispensable. Faced with uncertainty, complexity and a speeding world, we must rely on intuition.” Now in 2023, I couldn’t agree more.

Tarot of the Four Elements

The deck is described as Tribal Folklore, Earth Mythology and Human Magic - which is exactly what the deck feels like to me. Tarot of the Four Elements also follows the Rider-Waite system of organizing the cards but chooses to name the Wands suit by it’s elemental association, “Fire” instead. Created in collaboration by author and herbalist Isha Lerner and artist Amy Ericksen, the Tarot of the Four Elements speaks to a love of nature, numbers, tarot , fantasy, play and art. The illustrations are expressive, fluid, primal and beautifully trippy. It looks like energy unleashed. My favorite figures in the deck look like energy in motion- tiny colored dots appear to vibrate, spirals twist and coil, bodies are freed from gender norms and contain elements of both sexes. This deck feels alive. There’s a nature based neutrality to the cards; an acceptance of the cycles of life. For folks new to the Tarot, it might be a bit challenging as a starter deck because the Minor Arcana, although beautifully designed, doesn’t offer the visual clues that are super helpful as you learn the sequential journey through the Minors. Like the Radiant Tarot, Tarot of the Four Elements comes with a full sized book as their guide. I haven’t read the entire book yet, but as I looked through it I really liked the Key Words that are offered for each cards - they’re more unusual than what I usually find. For example, one of the Keywords for the Tower card is “Lighting bolts awaken.” Whew! That’s one of the clearest, shortest and truest ways I’ve seen the card described. I can feel the message because of it’s simplicity…and feeling the cards is the most direct way I’ve found to learning and deepening your relationship with the Tarot.

 

Questions to help you discover the right deck for you:

  • Would you prefer to work with representations of people, animals, plants or abstraction?

  • Do you prefer illustration or collage?

  • Are you looking for a Queer, gender non-conforming or nonbinary deck? I recommend checking out the Fifth Spirit Tarot. ♡

  • Would you prefer a deck that features BIPOC representation?

  • Are you most interested in psychology, witchcraft, herbalism, pop culture, hip-hop, personal evolution, playful or fantastical characters, mythology or affirming representation? Have fun finding a deck that speaks to you in your language.

Let me know down below - what’s your favorite deck and why?

Or let me know the type of deck your looking for…I might have a reccomendation for you. ☺︎ ↓

xCameron

Previous
Previous

Blend and Shape

Next
Next

21 Ways to Receive Your Love