Whose never owned an original style or beginner deck?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 02 May 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.

seapearls	02 May 2005
Such as the Rider Waite or one of the others that are recommended for beginners? Do you feel you have missed anything or did you start without one and later went back and got one?

Foxyangel	02 May 2005
I started without one... but have to admit to having got the Robin Wood at a later stage. I don't think I have missed out... I started with the deck that most appealed to me... which is what I was advised to do, as I was more likely to spend time learning this than one I had been "told" to get... But then that might just be me! foxyangel :)

Umbrae	02 May 2005
I've heard of an RWS referred to as a beginners deck. However - it ain't.

Ilithiya	02 May 2005
Never started with either; didn't care to. Even then I knew that if I didn't like the style and setup of a deck, I wasn't going to use it. I do have an RWS now, though, but it got supplanted by the Intl Icon. I seem to work much better with the Intl Icon, as it's got a wider range of interpretable meanings (at least to me). And I don't know if the Intl Icon could exactly be termed a beginner's deck; while it follows the same layout as the RWS, and it's stripped down of the pointless, I think that it's actually a much more intense deck to read. There's no little fingers pointing you to an interp with it. Illy

seapearls	02 May 2005
I didn't start with one either and still don't own one. I started with what caught my eye and those beginner decks do nothing for me, I won't use a deck that doesn't grab me.

Umbrae	02 May 2005
seapearls wrote: beginner decks Can you define this term for me please? Further, why would you propose that the RWS is a beginner’s deck? Does this imply that its symbolism is easy to grasp? That other decks are more advanced? Is there something wrong with RWS or users thereof? Lately I’ve been using a Tarot of the White Cats which is so way not a beginners deck, but you’d have to spend some time with it grock that point. Seriously – What’s a beginners deck? And I have been touting the International Icon since before it came out. It’s RWS but beyond and not a beginners deck - you can get lost in the simplicity of form and color in and of RWS imagery. All decks mentioned in this post got heavy stuff in them. Unless, you’re a beginner.

HOLMES	02 May 2005
for me it was a great deck for me to learn with 1. for one big reason,, all the books written for it :) granted some of them are simply saying the same thing,, yet some of the good one add their own to it 2.when I startedi didnt' have to worry about numbers, astrology, kabbalah, even though now as i am past my beginner stage in the sense of being ignorance of these things. I realize that its too an advanced deck. so my point is the waite deck makes a great one for beginners, and will take them from beginners to advanced. for me its general symbolism is easy to grasp for I wasn't worried about the glyph on the hand of the devil, nor why the dude has one shoe and another. what I was more worred about as a beginner was.. why is he trying to fend off others with his wand, or why is the dude wearings bandages in the nine of wands. the angel over the lovers,, that must be the angel of love. then after I learned more,, ohhh that is why the ram head is on this card. some decks I have are not just that accessible. examples faery wicca, enochion tarot, pythorgorean tarot, and the master tarot (the minors dont' follow the regular four elemental pips) the waite for me was indeed very accessible. the artwork being comics like and since i read comics all my life it was like "hello my friend " and let us not forget the first to illustrate pips in some years. and those illustrations for many are the standards. I seen the scans of the tarot of white cats, it looks to me to be a wiate clone, and with that assocation in mind I could fall into them very easily when i get it. I dont' know what grock means though I dont' know what international icon tarot is,, can you link it? I would disagree with you umbrae that it isnt a beginner deck.. I wouldnt' say that it is just a beginner deck though.. like my first point . it is a advanced deck that is great for beginners to learn on.. for eventaully I will learn what that symbol of saturn is on that devil hand for.

Sulis	02 May 2005
The term 'beginners deck' certainly gives the impression that you think that other decks are more advanced and that many of the people who read with the RWS do so because they aren't good enough readers to progress to another deck. I really don't like this reasoning. I started with decks with more pleasing (to me) artwork but I consider that I've progressed to a RWS. Now that I am further along with my tarot journey I think that I actually get more out of the Rider Waite deck than I would have done when just starting out. There seems to be quite a lot of this attitude that some decks are better or more advanced than others - I've heard people talk about progressing to Thoth or Marseilles, somehow suggesting that pictoral minors are in some way 'inferior'. I recommend the Rider Waite deck to beginners simply because most folk who pick up a tarot deck to learn also quite like to pick up a book to read about that tarot deck and get some instruction on what to do with it. The Rider Waite deck is the deck that has the most literature to go with it. This is what makes me recommend it - that and the fact that it's a bloody good tarot deck. If I was a great fan of Thoth I'd probably recommend that to beginners (along with a good Thoth based book), but I'm not, I read best with RWS based decks. I think that most experienced readers will agree that the best tarot deck is the one that you as a reader can relate to the best. There is no such thing as a 'beginner deck'. Love Sulis xx

The Dreamer	02 May 2005
Umbrae wrote: "beginner decks" Can you define this term for me please? Further, why would you propose that the RWS is a beginner’s deck? Does this imply that its symbolism is easy to grasp? That other decks are more advanced? Is there something wrong with RWS or users thereof? Lately I’ve been using a Tarot of the White Cats which is so way not a beginners deck, but you’d have to spend some time with it grock that point. Seriously – What’s a beginners deck? And I have been touting the International Icon since before it came out. It’s RWS but beyond and not a beginners deck - you can get lost in the simplicity of form and color in and of RWS imagery. All decks mentioned in this post got heavy stuff in them. Unless, you’re a beginner. "Tarot is divination with training wheels. The Rider-Waite adds the helmet and body pads" could be taken to mean that the RWS is a "beginner's deck". Beginners are more likely to fall down and need more protection. (Supposedly. I don't know if the analogy of divination and riding a bike really holds up.) A person can get lost in the form and color of an image the first time they see it. I can't see why looking at the same image repeatedly is supposed to improve the "getting lost in the image" factor. If what a beginner grasps more completely after spending some time with a deck is the traditional associations for the symbols it uses- or, if what the beginner grasps more completely after more experience with the deck is the real life correlations of situations to the cards, then in that sense, there is no beginners deck, but only people who are beginning to use that deck. If beginner's deck is taken to mean "the deck to get familiar with, because most books about tarot are written about it, and the majority of other decks are based on it" then the RWS would fit that description. Tangentially, I wonder if "Tarot is divination with training wheels" is supposed to mean that other forms of divination are more advanced, or that there is something wrong with tarot and users thereof. Back to the main topic- I do own a RWS but very rarely use it. I prefer the imagery and meaning to be found in other decks, particularly the Haindl and the Thoth. I started with those, and went back and got the RWS later. I don't feel like I was missing much by not having it.

seapearls	03 May 2005
Sulis wrote: The term 'beginners deck' certainly gives the impression that you think that other decks are more advanced and that many of the people who read with the RWS do so because they aren't good enough readers to progress to another deck. I really don't like this reasoning. I started with decks with more pleasing (to me) artwork but I consider that I've progressed to a RWS. Now that I am further along with my tarot journey I think that I actually get more out of the Rider Waite deck than I would have done when just starting out. There seems to be quite a lot of this attitude that some decks are better or more advanced than others - I've heard people talk about progressing to Thoth or Marseilles, somehow suggesting that pictoral minors are in some way 'inferior'. I recommend the Rider Waite deck to beginners simply because most folk who pick up a tarot deck to learn also quite like to pick up a book to read about that tarot deck and get some instruction on what to do with it. The Rider Waite deck is the deck that has the most literature to go with it. This is what makes me recommend it - that and the fact that it's a bloody good tarot deck. If I was a great fan of Thoth I'd probably recommend that to beginners (along with a good Thoth based book), but I'm not, I read best with RWS based decks. I think that most experienced readers will agree that the best tarot deck is the one that you as a reader can relate to the best. There is no such thing as a 'beginner deck'. Love Sulis xx I used the term beginner deck because thats what other people always refer to them as. And theres a beginner deck section on here. I like your reasoning because most books refer to that deck. To me all decks are equal because it all depends in the individual on if a deck is workable or not.

firemaiden	03 May 2005
I began with the Thoth. The Thoth has keywords... maybe that should be considered a "beginner's" deck. Perhaps a RWS is recommended to beginners simply because it is so widely used that so much of the literature uses it as a base, therefore, if you want to do what it says in a book, it's easy to find the book. In a market place widely dominated by RWS "clones", it makes sense to first learn the theme which is being copied, and then move on to the varations. However by that same logic, one ought more rightly to begin with a Marseille deck, because surely the Marseille is the theme which gave rise to all other variations. Still, I began with the Thoth and don't regret it. Although I was a newcomer to tarot, I was not a newcomer to symbolism, mythology, history, nor for that matter to thinking; plus I found Crowley's writing highly amusing and incredibly stimulating intellectually. I very much doubt my interest in tarot would have ever been piqued had I first come across "A Pictoral Guide to the Tarot" instead of the deliciously surrealistic brainbuzzings in the "Book of Thoth" online.

Little Baron	03 May 2005
I cannot see why most decks would not suit a beginner ... I agree that a Marseille would be a good starting point, seeing how later interpretations, such as it's own 'clones' and the RWS and the Thoth, derived from it, adding and subtracting elements for more the modern tarots. Having said that, I began with a Thoth clone and it did me no harm. I think it depends on the amount of time you spend with your 'first deck' (I prefer that term to 'beginners deck'), how you bond with it and how open you are to the many resourses and opinions out there. LB

lunalafey	03 May 2005
When I got my first deck and then many years later got a second deck.....I did not know that a deck called RWS even existed. I learned the structure of tarot through two very different decks. I still do not own a RWS, closest thing I have is "new Vision"

bleuivy	03 May 2005
I think the term "beginner deck" can be misleading, because it does imply a simplicity that other decks lack. I started with the Thoth, which I rarely see reccomended to beginners. I later found out I use RWS imagry better, but for me, the Thoth was a great introduction to the tarot. If someone I knew wanted to start reading tarot, I would probably suggest they use the RWS, the Thoth, or the TdM, not because I think they're easier than the other decks on the market, but because they are the most widely known systems and images. There is more information out there, and more resources available for people following one of those deck for learning than something else. I'm still very much in the learning stage of reading tarot, and knowing that this forum has a wealth of information on each of these three decks makes them more approachable to me than, say, the Tarot of the Imagination. Not that i don't value the deck, but there is less information out there for someone who wants to learn on it. However, if my friend felt called to another deck, I would suggest they go with their gut instinct. To answer your original question, I used to own just a TdM and a Thoth, which are slightly non-traditional beginner decks. I couldn't stay away from the RWS symbolism, though, and ended up getting one of them as well. I'm finding that I get more out of it now than I would have had I not studied the other systems, though.

Moongold	03 May 2005
A complete newcomer, with most of my education being in the social sciences (little mythology or symbolism0, I started with the Witches and got completely lost. Then I bought a Rider Waite Smith and learned for some time on that but did not really like the art work and bought a Morgan Greer which I really used most in the beginning. Various other decks followed, including the Ancient Egyptian, but then I began to learn the Marseille. This led me back to RWS and now I use the Universal Waite, the Marseille and the Ancient Egyptian the most. I think people learn at the level they are capable in the beginning and with the deck that "holds" them the most. The more you know, the more you want to know and I think there is great value in getting to know one of two decks in depth. I agree with something that firemaiden said. How you take to Tarot depends a lot on your background, your preferences and the gifts you already have. Any deck that appeals will do to start.

Satori	03 May 2005
Every time I pick up a deck it is a beginner's deck. I begin by picking it up. No wait, I begin by choosing the deck. No, I begin by choosing to read the Tarot.... I think what I have is a beginner's mind. ;)

Nevada	03 May 2005
Umbrae wrote: I've heard of an RWS referred to as a beginners deck. However - it ain't. Umbrae's right. My first deck was the Voyager, my second and third were the Thoth and Aquarian. I didn't "get" the Aquarian for many years, and then I learned it was based on the RWS. I agree with Sulis, there's no such thing as a perfect beginner's deck. I do think it's best to stick to one that you feel you connect with, while you're learning, and worry about learning other decks once you feel comfortable with that one. Nevada

mike gorth	03 May 2005
I first got the universal waite tarot and i absolutely LOATHE it and the RWS. I can't get rid of it since it was my first deck but I can't read with it. I think what you mean by beginners deck is that it has easily interpreted pictures instead of oh lets say thoth which I find impossible. I got it and it was a HUGE mistake. Of course, easily interpreted is in the eye of the beholder. (eyes watering) one of the best twilight zone episodes. I love Sci Fi/Fantasy. oh.... anyway... I find I'm addicted to 'beginner' decks. For instance, I want the nigel jackson and sharman caselli. It isn't the sybolism and such in the RWS its the colors and the thick lines and the not so real looking people I hate. I like RWS style decks a lot. Just not RWS. That's my take.

tmgrl2	06 May 2005
Seems as if I would agree with what most have said here.... In the beginning, any deck can seem pretty daunting....learning to read is a process and there is, hopefully, lots of practice, perhaps journaling, studying as well.... I say, pick a deck that you can relate to and Begin. My first deck was a RWS....then I moved to the Radiant RWS, because I thought it was "softer." Now....eeks...I own way more decks than I read with, but I pull out the deck I am in the mood to use. My favorites are still some of the early ones...although I prefer the Morgan-Greer if I am going to use a RWS "clone." I also love reading with Marseille decks. And...I love the International Icon Tarot. The simplicity of it is so amazing. So.... Begin with the deck you choose and know that there is no such thing as a "beginner" deck, only beginner's mind...as elf so charmingly pointed out.... terri

Rhiamon	13 May 2005
I started out with the RWS, found it much too "hard to grasp"...but I wanted the deck that most books refer to, so I looked around for some artwork that caught my eye, but stayed along the same lines as the RWS, so I bought the Robin Wood and Hanson-Roberts, of which are still my fav decks...then I went to the Radiant RWS and it's MUCH better...I guess I need lots of color...hehe

SunChariot	13 May 2005
seapearls wrote: Such as the Rider Waite or one of the others that are recommended for beginners? Do you feel you have missed anything or did you start without one and later went back and got one? I never had one of those decks. I was never drawn to them and find the images too simple looking. I love lots of beautiful colours and artwork and symbolism...I started with the Haindl (in two days it will be a year ago) and I am up to 12 decks now and I love every one of them. If I had any problems or confusion initially it was with an online course I took. It sent the meanings to study every week for some of the cards, and none of the meanings for the minors they sent had anything much to do with the meanings of the minors in my deck. In the end I just dropped the course as it was not helping me. And read a ton of books that taught me to read intuitively and find the symbolism in the imagery rather than learning meanings. I know it is not everyone's way, but that is for me the way that works best and that I most enjoy.:-) Did I miss anything, definitely not. Another path would not have put me exactly where I am now on my Tarot path, and I love where I am now. :-)Would I change anything, no way--the whole thing has been a wonderful fascinating ride. And on that note, thank you to everyone here for helping make it such a beautiful experience. :-) Bar

Little Baron	14 May 2005
'Happy Haindl Anniversary' Bar!!! LB

SunChariot	14 May 2005
LittleBuddha wrote: 'Happy Haindl Anniversary' Bar!!! LB Thank you so much. :-) Tomorrow is also my one year anniversary of learning Tarot (as the Haindl was first and my initiation into Tarot). Yeah!!! BTW, what does "OM MANI PADME HUM" mean. I think I have an idea of the first word, having done some meditation in my life, but you lost me on the rest. LOL

The Whose never owned an original style or beginner deck? thread was originally posted on 02 May 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.