Can you recommend a good starter tarot set?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 27 Dec 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

For	27 Dec 2002
I really would like to start reading tarot cards, but first i need a good set. very basic, but good. any suggestions?

RedWood	27 Dec 2002
Fi you like Greek Mythology...i Would suggest..The mythic tarot set~!

dangerdork	27 Dec 2002
You should probably get the Rider-Waite deck if you're a beginner, it's far and away the most common deck out there, and many if not most of the other popular decks are based on its symbolism and imagery. There's a deck called the Universal tarot that is just the Rider-Waite deck re-colored by Mary Hanson-Roberts (I prefer her colors to the original). Ms. Hanson-Roberts also has a self-named deck which is a good starter deck. The Robin Wood is also an awesome deck, and there is an excellent book for beginners entitled "Tarot Plain and Simple" by Anthony Lewis, which uses the Robin Wood cards for illustrations. The vast majority of beginner-level books will use the Rider-Waite imagery.

Teal	27 Dec 2002
I absolutely recommend you start with Rider/Waite! I didn't, and I ended up with umpteen decks, still not fully understanding or able to read with any of them. Rider-Waite is the one most of the tarot books refer to and I find that it's the easiest one to learn from. Something about the images, colors, etc. I think, just clicks more with the subconscious. Now that I've been studying with Rider-Waite, I can much more easily branch out into other decks. The problem with learning from any other deck that's not based on RW is that they often change the meanings and symbolism of the cards, so that when you learn one of those decks, you still haven't learned the basic tarot and wouldn't be able to read with that or many other decks. If you start with RW, however, then it's possible to read with other decks far more easily.

violinlily	27 Dec 2002
some people don't like the RWS, and use similar decks, like hanson-roberts, universal waite. It's nice to buy decks that corelate w/ your intersests, and some find it easier to learn w/ those (eg. people who like dragons: Dragon Tarot) But then again, everyone is different and has their own opinions of different decks, which you will find all over the forum. Welcome to the forums, by the way!!! :D

Osher	27 Dec 2002
My first deck was the Tarot of the Old Path, which was not a bad starter, although the RW would also be a good choice. Both share the following characteristics: 1. All the cards are illustrated 2. The illustrations have meaning 3. The illustrations are simple 4. There are good books available for them 5. There are no words for the minor, to distract the new comer. 6. The deck is a fairly standard size/shape, and well made. 7. There no distracting images, such as erotisim or theme Follow the above, and I don't think you'll go far wrong. Other decks to consider include the Cosmic deck and the Secret deck. I'm not a fan of the so-called starter decks with meanings, as they seem confusing, and do not develop the psychic side. Another point is that of hand size! I have huge hands, so the Rohrig is not a problem, but I know a few women who prefer the half-size RW due to ease of handling, as even the standard size is uncomfortable. OH, and don't forget to buy from a source that helps out Aeclectic!

Ophiel	27 Dec 2002
If you read books, the WRS deck is by far the most often cited. Some books may tap a different deck, but all in all, WRS has more notches in its column in this regard. Many of the other decks after it are based on its designs anyway. After you are familiar with it, you can move on to other decks and have a solid foundation.

Phoenix	27 Dec 2002
As the others have said, the Rider-Waite-Smith(RWS) is by far the most common one used for the basis of books. There are several versions(different colourations) of this deck: Rider Waire(the standard), Universal Waite(softer pastel tones), the Albano-Waite, and the Golden Waite deck. All offer the same symbolism, so you aren't losing anything from version to version. The Robin Wood is another excellent one to learn on. It is a RWS clone deck(meaning that it is very similar to the RWS decks, but at the same time, it is the creator's interpretation of the card meanings). I personally reccomend this one, especially because it is very easy to read "intuitively". The Renaissance Tarot(it has been renamed as the Secret Tarots) by Jane Lyle is another good deck, although not as nice, IMO, as the Robin Wood. It has a lot of symbolism th ough. That's about all I know for beginner decks. I hear the Hanson-Roberts is another good deck for beginners, but I don't have it, so can't really say. But more importantly, go for the one that calls to you the most!! Good Luck!

Jeannette	28 Dec 2002
For a beginner, a deck alone is unlikely to be of much use without some decent instructions. I might recommend that any beginner look into a good beginner's set or kit. Right now, I think that The Complete Tarot Kit would be one of my top picks for a beginner's set. It includes pocket-sized editions of both the Rider-Waite and Thoth decks (since you'll generally find that most people are drawn to one over the other; I'm a Thoth person myself), a better-than-average instruction manual, a journal book (both spiral-bound, for easy handling -- why hadn't some genius thought of that before?), a spread mat, and a quick reference card. All in all, an extremely good value at $35. The box/container for the lot is very well designed too -- which is not something I can say for all deck/book sets. -- Jeannette http://www.tarotgarden.com

Logiatrix	28 Dec 2002
ditto from jeannette/lori--this set rocks, and the price is great! ;)

truthsayer	13 Jan 2003
i think the sharman burke caselli set otherwise known as the beginner's tarot is a great set for beginners. the cards are rws based. the book is well done. it shows each card and points out significant symbols on the cards. when you're learning tarot, all the symbols can be overwhelming. this book seems to break it done into more digestible segments.

little	13 Jan 2003
Although I'm now studying the Universal Waite, I found the Mythic, and the accompanying book, to be a very useful first deck, because it helped me to link something totally unfamiliar (tarot) with the myths I already knew. Whatever you get, make sure it has a real book (or get a good book to go with it). I wish I could remember the name of the book that I found most useful from my public library... but all I remember was that it had lots of photo illustrations and was purple. And that's not so helpful. Tarot for Dummies was good, too, despite the name, although I preferred the Mythic's psychological approach to the occult approach of the Dummies book. But that's just me and what works with my interactions with the cards.

MattDouglas	16 Jan 2003
I too would recommend the Mythic as a starter deck. While it was not my first deck (that was Cosmic), when I got the mythic was when the themes of cards really started to click for me. Remember that whatever deck you use, the interpretations for one deck can be used in readings with a different deck and vice versa. It's probably not so much what deck you start with so much as whether the books you first read click with you. Liz Greene's book with the myhtic is great; I recommend her books on astrology (first and foremost) too if you ever choose to study that. Eden Gray's books are good starters. One you get a general idea of the cards and want to go into more depth, I recommend Isabel Radow Kleigman's "Tarot and the Tree of Life" for the minors and Hajo Banzhaf's "Tarot and the Journey of the Hero" for the majors. Don't however, let a given meaning you've studied block a gut intuitions about the meaning of a card in a reading no matter what it might be telling you. If you want to get a deck where you can attempt to look at the artwork and just go with your gut then get the Shapeshifter (warning: I've had some potent readings with it). Ultimately, you are the judge of whether a deck or book is right for you. Love, understanding, and compassion, Matt

RiccardoLS	17 Jan 2003
I would not use the RWS or any of clones as first deck. My personal opinion is that there is too much material on those decks, and You will lose a sense of perspective, that is so important at the beginning of any path. --- I got a question... not exactly on topic. How would You rate the Fey Tarot as a set for beginners? (to avoid cluttering this thread, maybe it could be better to answer on the Fey Tarot thread). tnx in advance. Riccardo

marmalade	18 Jan 2003
i'd recommend using any deck, as long as you like it. sure, some decks are easier to interpret than others, but if you choose a deck that many people recommend as 'easy' to read with, but you don't like the artwork or you just can't grasp the symbolism of, then you may as well have picked a deck that's more difficult to learn from in the beginning. my first deck was the art nouveau by myers. i had trouble with it initially because all the books i had were geared towards the rider-waite decks, and the symbolism of my deck was different in many respects, but the symbolism would be different and take some getting used to whether it was my 1st deck or 101st deck. at first i kinda wished i had picked up the rider-waite because i thought it would be easier to learn with, but the truth is i was choosing between the two decks in the store, and i didn't pick the RWS because i didn't like the look of it. i still don't like the look of it, and i can read perfectly well with my art nouveau deck! i tend to believe that all the stuff written in all the books is just a guideline to what the cards mean, and it's up to you to interpret the images and the surrounding cards in a reading to decipher the meanings. and if the deck 'dosn't speak' to you, then reading the cards will be a lot more difficult.

The Can you recommend a good starter tarot set? thread was originally posted on 27 Dec 2002 in the Tarot Decks board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Tarot Decks, or read more archived threads.