im about to buy my 1st deck!any suggestions

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 23 Jul 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

metalwayz	23 Jul 2004
im abegginer about to buy my 1st deck.any suggestions

fairyhedgehog	23 Jul 2004
Hi metalwayz, Welcome to aeclectic! Buying your first deck is great - I'd take time to look around and choose as the first one is special :) And they are pretty expensive :( If you look at the list of beginner's decks that might give you some ideas. You could then come back and ask for more information on decks you particularly like the look of. If you want to look a bit wider, there is a whole list of categories of tarot decks that you could look through. But beginners decks are easier to learn with, in my view. My first deck was the Hanson Roberts deck - it is really easy to use. But many other people like the Robin Wood deck. Let us know how you get on :)

Eco74	23 Jul 2004
Or whatever the way the spell that is... All I have are clones. Personally I absolutely adore my Robin Wood (though also getting several other decks to adore) which has taught me plenty. The most important thing though is to get a deck that speaks to you, one that gives you a welcoming feeling and invites you to explore the images, intices you to continue even if you can't quite grasp the meaning of the cards and one that has you musing on the beauty of the imagery until you start making the connections. And make the connections you will... Don't be alarmed if more than one deck speaks to you, and feel free to pick up two at once if it feels right. It might make it easier to learn the symbolism if it is repeated in another style and another feel.. Basically, if it Feels right it IS right. (Check out the tarotdecks on the aeclectic website for images and reviews, and there are a few sticky links to websites that show whole decks. Makes it easier to get a feel for the entirety of the deck.) Oh, and if you want to use a specific book while learning, it really helps to have a deck that uses the same symbolism as the illustrations-deck in the book.. Just a little detail. :o)

metalwayz	23 Jul 2004
thanks for helping me out i think i will do good on picking out a deck

The 78th Fool	24 Jul 2004
Hi Metalwayz, I've only just spotted this thread as I've been away - so I assume you've gone out and bought your deck by now!!! However, I really must recommend Juliet Sharman Burke's 'Beginner's guide to the Tarot' to you. I've reviewed it on the main site - you'll find it listed as the 'Sharman Caselli Tarot'. For the price of a deck, you get the deck and what I consider to be the best beginner's coursebook I've come across so far. Even if you've already bought your first deck, you may still want to consider this for the book alone. Happy Reading and Fair Fortune, Chris

Sunburst	24 Jul 2004
I agree. The Sharman-Caselli (Beginner's Guide to Tarot) was the second deck I bought, and even though I've added many others to my collection, it's still the one that I use the most. Just a bit of advice based on my experience....for my first deck, I bought one of those "budget bin" decks that you can find on the clearance rack at the bookstore. Don't do that. It really was a waste of my money. You're much better off to buy a proper deck right from the start. The Sharman-Caselli comes with a great book that will really help you understand the basics, and will give you enough knowledge to become comfortable with other decks. The quality of the cards is very good. I've used the deck a lot over the last two years, and it's still in great shape. The cards are a nice size and a good weight. It's easy to shuffle and the cards aren't "sticky". Good luck with your new deck, and let us know what you choose. Sunburst

Aun	24 Jul 2004
You should really pick the deck that you feel a better connection with. However, the RWS is always a good choice due to the wealth of information available and and also to its easy-to-grasp symbolism.

hyatt	24 Jul 2004
Hello. What fun picking out your first deck!I wish you well! I started on a Rider Waite Smith (RWS) deck and a Hanson Roberts. I'm not so crazy about the Hanson Roberts I just don't like the people. So long as you like the deck you can't go wrong. I would stick to some form of a clone of RWS for that you can read books and know what they are talking about. Good luck!

DesertHowler	24 Jul 2004
It sounds like fun. My first deck kind of picked me. I was loaned an Osho Zen deck and I loved it. My second one, I just went to the store, and closed my eyes and passed my hands over the decks until one spoke to me. It was a universal Rider Waite. When you do this, it helps sometimes if the clerk knows you. Good luck DesertHowler

Anna	25 Jul 2004
How are you coming along with the search metalwayz? I tend to think that you can't go wrong as long as the deck you pick is one that speaks to you. My first deck was the 1JJ Swiss, and it was the ONLY deck in my local book shop at the time. It didnt speak to me (although I would probably appreciate it now!), and a few years later I bought a RWS and was much happier. Let us know what you get! pixie

blackroseivy	25 Jul 2004
That's the one *I* learned on too, & it's supposed to be *the* learner's deck of choice. Good luck!

Sillanza	25 Jul 2004
... that's Rider-Waite-Smith to the unacronymed, but chose a non-traditional book: Tarot in 10 Minutes. I already knew the basics of tarot, but I liked the "directed" methods used in this book. I rarely use them today, but took many good lessons from it.

Umbrae	25 Jul 2004
Simplify... International Icon Tarot

Alta	25 Jul 2004
I second umbrae's comment. International Icon, great deck.

blackroseivy	25 Jul 2004
Yeah, it is, very amusing! :laugh:

Seed Crystal	25 Jul 2004
Definitely agree with those who recommend checking out decks and getting a feel for which draws you. Stores and websites (especially this one) can help with that. Reviews can be helpful but like any other input take with grain of salt. Aside from this - since you solicited advice: Rider-Waite variants have benefits of (usually) well-designed and tested and documented systems of symbols for you to work with. Of course that may also mean more interference with learning to hear your own intuition; personally, I loath most tarot dictionaries. With other decks, check out both the decks and what supportive books etc. exist for them; if they speak to you, great, if not - you just invested in what may end up being a secondary deck in your collection. The art work should please you; it's a major distraction if it doesn't. There should be no really annoying cards in your major arcana; it skews your readings. (I am talking about cards you hate on sight; disturbing may be ok.) I REALLY like the World Spirit deck. The accompanying small book is excellent. It is R-W inspired enough that other resources apply. The images are accessible yet deep enough to give you something to work with. I like the artwork. And I think the treatment of the "court" cards in the minors is brilliant (Seeker, Seer, Sage and Sybil; they represent different stages or modes not ranks or "older dark haired man" silliness).

Phantom Goddess	25 Jul 2004
My first deck was Sacred Circle. when I first saw images of it on a website I felt that the cards reached out their invisiable hands and almost pulled me into the computer. I knew that was the right beginning deck for me. When I saw the images of the Gothic Deck, I almost hit my head on the computer screen, I was looking so hard at it. My advice to you is too wait until you feel this incredible pull to a certian deck. Don't rush and grab the wrong one, you'll regret it. So go shopping and you'll be drawn to the right one. Happy Hunting ;)

Shalott	01 Aug 2004
What did you get what did you get what did you get??? The suspense is killin' me! :D

blackroseivy	01 Aug 2004
"Yesh!" says Mooch (Mutts fan)!!

Seed Crystal	20 Aug 2004
bump

The im about to buy my 1st deck!any suggestions thread was originally posted on 23 Jul 2004 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.