first deck recommendations
Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 20 Apr 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.
| autumn star |
20 Apr 2005 |
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Hi,
I'm relatively new to tarot and want to get my first deck ( I have a hand me down deck ... so I don't really think of it as my own).
I really like the tarot of a moon garden and the miracle tarot - because they have beautiful artwork and bright colours. I feel that as a beginner I wouldn't have the experience to tackle a darker deck.
Does anyone have any recommendations for a first deck? And what were your experiences with your first one?
autumn star
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| FaerieStorm |
20 Apr 2005 |
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Hi Autumn Star,
I'm somewhat of a novice myself, but I do have about twenty-five decks now, and I have found that my first deck was definitely not my favorite deck. Crowley's Thoth Tarot was my first, but it really doesn't resonate with me all that much.
If you want a deck that is fairly traditional in its interpretations the DruidCraft Tarot is excellent--however it has more of a Celtic/Druidic theme, but it doesn't take away from the meanings.
Some to stay away from for your first: Waking the Wild Spirit (it's way out there), Osho Zen (it's wonderful, but some of the interpretations take some getting used to), The Witches Tarot--Ellen Cannon Read (it is a workable deck, but Reed takes a strange viewpoint on the Qabalah).
My favorites are:
DruidCraft
Tarot de Paris (J. Philip Thomas)
Hanson-Roberts
Fey Tarot
Ananda Tarot
Tarot of Prague
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| Emeraldgirl |
21 Apr 2005 |
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Hi
My first deck was the Mythic tarot http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/mythic/
The cards are RWS based and the companion book is really easy to read. It relates the cards to Greek mythology and is one of the best beginner decks I have ever seen.
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| DarkAngel_Claudia |
21 Apr 2005 |
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Hi there , AutumnStar
If u are a beginner, absolutely get Rider-Waite deck!
Its the best deck there is for beginners
Claudia
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| IDN |
21 Apr 2005 |
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I would say the Rider-Waite deck,
It's good for beginners
Most books are based on it
It's a great deck anyway (regardless of whether you are just starting out)
I have the "orginal", but there are many "variants" that are coloured slightly differently, to suit varying tastes.
Regards,
Ian
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| shadowdancer |
21 Apr 2005 |
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I would add another vote for the Mythic!
I learned with it too - and found the cards made the story telling relatively easy compared to some decks.
Davina
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| bodhran |
21 Apr 2005 |
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My first deck was the Hanson-Roberts. I liked its colors, and the deck was a nice size for my small hands to handle.
Blessings,
Bodhran
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| Elven |
21 Apr 2005 |
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Hi Autmn Star,
The first deck! How exciting. Have you had a look through some of the different decks on the Tarot Cards forum. They have pictures of some of the cards. It can give you a good indication of what you maybe looking for. Its very hard to look in the shops when everything is bound in a box and covered in plastic.
I think - dont buy a deck if your half sure or really rushed. Choose a deck that YOU find resonates and speaks to you.
I like the RWS type deck to start or variations of this. I have just bought the Gilded Tarot because of the artwork and colours. I needed a change from my old RWS deck and I have found that I am reading them so smoothly - Im very pleased with them.
The hardest thing is to stop at one!!!!!
Happy shopping!
Blessings
Elven x
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| Clau |
21 Apr 2005 |
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I Agree the Rider White is great to start with. If you have "the original" as a base then youl'll be able so see and appreciate all the variations made in other decks.
Also, i'd like to suggest Marseille (nothing too fancy, try Fournier).
If you study and get to know the basics: Rider White and Marseille, you'll get the hang of both "systems" and will be able to broaden your understanding of tarot a LOT. Also, you'll be able to make an informed desition, as to which tradition appeals you the most.
Welcome to this fascinating world!!!
Clau
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| Little Baron |
21 Apr 2005 |
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Good suggestion Clau - the Fournier is a nice deck. The RWS is a good beginners deck in the fact that there is a lot of written material out there about it, which is one of the reasons it is so often recommended, but I suppose that all depends if you are interested in Waites system. I did learn with a RWS and it gave some good readings, but these days, in using the Marseille, I am trying to forget a lot of what I learnt from it. I am pretty much starting over. I don't often see the Marseille listed as a beginners deck, but I can say, that as someone who has begun to learn it from scratch once again, once you begin to get a hold on it, it is not as difficult or as daunting as it may seem. I read a post the other day by someone that started with a ToM and had not been exposed to the RWS or decks with scenic-minors - it worked well for them.
I hope you find the right deck for you
Best,
LB
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| Fudugazi |
21 Apr 2005 |
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Well, everyone starts with a Marseille where I come from - and generally go no further. Why go further when you are studying the source? Except for me ;) (I had to be different :P) - I am a nosy nelly and I like all forms of Tarot. I started with RWS, but have made up for lost time with Marseille since.
I agree - Marseille is a splendid deck to start with.
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| Emily |
21 Apr 2005 |
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With a Marseille you would learn a different style of reading - but if you like to see fully illustrated suit cards then I'd recommend the Morgan Greer as an alternative to the Rider Waite.
There are so many lovely deck recommendations in this thread but it all boils down to which appeals to you - hope you find your deck :)
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| Niomi |
21 Apr 2005 |
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Clive Barrett's ancient Egyptian:
http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/ancient-egyptian/
http://www.mythographica.fsnet.co.uk/aet/bdir.html (I got a signed copy from here)
It has a similar style of depth and symbolism as Thoth, but the images are very newbie friendly and incorporate some familiar RWS themes. The deck is set in ancient Egypt, the man has REAALLLY done his homework, it's stood up to the roughest of scrutiny. I'm currently going in the direction of Thoth and independent Artist decks, and the Ancient Egyptian is a great way to go into both styles of decks; it is also a good way to get into RWS-style decks with a little background info on Thoth to draw upon.
Just about the only kind of deck it won't give you a solid starting point with is Marseilles, which I personally know absolutely nothing about... something I'm really beginning to regret.
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| Fudugazi |
21 Apr 2005 |
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Just about the only kind of deck it won't give you a solid starting point with is Marseilles, which I personally know absolutely nothing about... something I'm really beginning to regret. Niomi: when I joined Aeclectic, I knew nothing about the Marseille except its imagery, which is reasonably well-known in the Francophone world. I was a Robin Wood-Thoth-Mythic gal. Now I have been Born Again (:D) - and people start thinking - Helvetica/Marseille - in one sentence (which is weird, me being such a neophyte). So if you are regretting it - that regret can be swiftly banished - and you have a wonderful adventure ahead of you :))
BTW - I'd love the Ancient Egyptian. On my wish-list. The other day I woke up with the name Anubis on my lips (OK, I had been looking at the Thoth). Does Anubis appear in the Ancient Egyptian?
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| Clau |
21 Apr 2005 |
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..... I was a Robin Wood-Thoth-Mythic gal.
REALLY????
Aren't you full of surprises my dearest Helvetica...
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| Elizabeth Genco |
21 Apr 2005 |
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My votes would be for the Mythic (this is a first deck for lots of folks I know -- it's got some nods in this thread already), the Hanson-Roberts, and my favorite, the Universal Waite.
My very first deck was the Alice In Wonderland deck, oddly...
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| smokey |
21 Apr 2005 |
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The Gilded
(or)
the Universal-Waite. ( softer colors than RWS, otherwise features are alike_)
Good Luck, & Bright Blessings!!!!
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| autumn star |
21 Apr 2005 |
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Thankyou everyone for your recommendations. I believe that the one that I already have is Rider Waite ... but it just doesn't seem to fit with me or my personality for some reason. I feel strange about using it because it belonged to someone else, and I can kind of feel that they owned them whenever I use them.
Maybe I will just practice with this deck just to get started and really familiar with the cards and meanings. Then when I feel more confident I will choose a deck that resonates with me and that I would feel comfortable using:)
I guess I'm going to show just how much of a novice I really I am ... but I have never been familiar with the Marsielles decks. What is the difference?
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| bleuivy |
21 Apr 2005 |
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Maybe I will just practice with this deck just to get started and really familiar with the cards and meanings. Then when I feel more confident I will choose a deck that resonates with me and that I would feel comfortable using:)
I think that's a good idea, autumn star. As I started getting more interested in tarot, I started buying decks before I was really comfortable with what I could and could not read with. And it turned out I bought some gread decks, but I just couldn't use them. I've since traded them away, but I think it would have been better right at the very beginning if I'd kept to one deck until I was able to figure out what I can read with and what I can't.
Also, I'm going second foxyangel's reccomendation that the Thoth isn't the best deck for beginners. It was the second deck I bought because I just loved the images I saw online. I loved it at first, but when I tried studying with it more and going more in depth, I just drowned in all the symbolism. It's deffinately a deck for later, in my opinion, anyway.
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| RiccardoLS |
22 Apr 2005 |
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The main difference of Marseille style decks is that they don't have pictures on minor Arcana but just pips (aka: 6 swords in the six of swords).
I would advise against using any RWS or close clone deck as a beginner.
There is too much said and written on that deck. It could be great, and be fast, and be easy (no, it's not the dark side), but in the end it could limit you, as you will possibly discover the other facets of Tarot really late.
A less "committed" deck - if good - may be the right companion for the first part of the road without having to tag along for the rest of the journey.
It will give you the possibility of a new start somewhere in the middle, while you shall be novice enough to appreciate it, and expert enough to see everything differently.
(two cents)
ric
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| cybercat |
22 Apr 2005 |
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Here are a few more suggestions.
If you are into the egyptian culture the Ancient Egyptian is great or try the Sphinx.
A cool color and not so hash rws spin off try Crystal. It is a very nice deck.
For traditional rws but different color or lighter color try Universal.
You can find a tarot to match any interests dragons, unicorns, cats, baseball,vampires, faries, Greek myths ect. You can probably find them the cheapest on amazon for many of them. Some you might have to go to the makers sight or the publisheing house site. Click on the decks icon at the top of the screen it has review and site location to view decks. Good Luck.
Cat
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The first deck recommendations thread was originally posted on 20 Apr 2005 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.
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