#QueenieAnswers: Bonding With Your Tarot Decks

 

What are some of the ways you bond with your decks?

 

#QueenieAnswers: Choosing a First Tarot Deck

Where is the best place to get a tarot deck and what one should I get??

My favorite place to buy tarot decks is Amazon :)  Sometimes eBay, but make sure you’re getting a new, unopened deck or that you read the description so you know the cards are in good condition.  You can also look in bookstores, but I don’t have many around and I suppose the selection varies greatly
Which one should you get?  Well.. that depends on a LOT of things, but here are my basic suggestions if you’re looking for your first deck.
You’re going to want a deck that you’re drawn to, something with art that speaks to you.  Pick something you like!  BUT..
Not all decks are created beginner-friendly.  If you’re not going to go for a Rider-Waite Smith deck or one of its many clones, you’re going to want something that still manages the familiar imagery of one.  Unless you’re going after Thoth or Marseilles style decks which have slightly different “systems” to the cards, as a beginner RWS is definitely the imagery you’ll be seeing a lot of as you learn the cards.  So it’s important that whatever deck you choose, while it doesn’t have to be a direct clone, at least follows the basic imagery.

So you can see that The RWS and the Aquatic tarot are pretty much exactly the same even thought the art is done in a different style, while there is a marked difference of the Mystic Faerie Tarot, but you can also see the similarities!  The Magician is still standing in front of a table that has all of his tools (representing the four suits) laid out on it.
Another thing you’re going to want is a fully illustrated minor arcana.  Memorizing definitions is one thing, but using imagery when you’re reading definitely helps you to develop your intuition.  Not to mention, it gives you clues when you’re drawing a blank!

The Labyrinth tarot has plain pip cards.. no hints to jog your memory or inspire your intuition. 
Aeclectic has literally THOUSANDS of decks to browse through, both tarot and oracle, so take some time to browse around, read reviews (reviews on Amazon are also immensely helpful) and find something you like.
One last thing to keep in mind, especially on Aeclectic, is availability.  Some of the decks there are out of print (OOP) or unfinished, or rare and expensive.  But there are plenty that are readily available!
As for a personal recommendation?  My first deck was the Paulina tarot, but I was really torn between that, a clone, and the Fenestra tarot.  And in hindsight and now owning Fenestra, I wish I had bought that one first, but it’s all good.  Also, I really, really didn’t want the original RWS.  I had zero interest in it, but now I find that it’s really grown on me and I freakin WANT IT lol, so don’t dismiss it!
Have fun shopping!

 

Enchanted Tarot Deck Mod

I did it!  I cut all the borders from the Enchanted Tarot.  I plan on adding glitter and an edge treatment as well in the near future, but for now, you can read about the borderectomy over at Divine Trinity Tarot

Introducing: the Mona Lisa Tarot

So here's my newest deck, an unexpected gift from someone in the tarot community.  She was getting rid of a few decks and this one caught my eye.  So this is the Mona Lisa tarot, by Mark McElroy and Paolo Martinello, who also did the artwork for the Universal Fantasy tarot, which is why I was drawn to it.  This deck is very different, but there are definitely story lines hidden in these cards.  The same characters pop up i different suits, in different life stages, and as I was going through the deck my imagination went wild!  I'm excited to put a few of those stories together. 

Major Arcana

Wands

Swords

Chalices

Pentacles

Introducing: the Radiant Rider-Waite Tarot

The Radiant Rider-Waite!  It doesn't really need much of an introduction. The coloring is different, but this is the imagery most people are probably familiar with. 


Major Arcana

Wands

Swords

Cups

Pentacles

Introducing: the Paulina Tarot

Finally, a closer look at my very first deck, the Paulina Tarot, by Paulina Cassidy!  You can click the pictures for a larger view.


Major Arcana

Wands 

Swords

Cups

Pentacles

Introducing: the Secret Tarot

You were waiting for this, weren't you?  Secret Tarot, by Marco Nizzoli, is a bit different from standard RW decks.  Certain cards have a very different feel than what I'm used to, but it does the job.

Major Arcana

Wands

Swords

Cups

Pentacles

Introducing: the Fenestra Tarot

Finally, the Fenestra Tarot!  (by Chatriya Hemharnvibu)  I did about ten mini readings with this deck yesterday, and let me tell you, I'm in love!  It's a no-nonsense deck, it's going to tell you what you need to hear in no uncertain terms and with no apologies.  Because it's so closely based on RW decks, it's super easy to work with.  And so far it seems to be remarkably consistent.  I'm only sorry that I didn't pick it up sooner.  The Paulina Tarot is pretty, but the Fenestra Tarot should have been my first deck.

Major Arcana

Wands

Swords

Cups

Pentacles