It's been a while since I was here and even though I can basically only chime in with what some of the others have already said I felt like responding anyway.
So I am a pretty big newbie, just started about a month ago. I had bought a deck awhile ago (Marseilles deck) but I didn't really like it and never actually used it. Recently I bought the golden botticelli deck, which I really like and it has inspired me to get books and really start trying to learn.
First I think its very nice to see a bit of proof that Tarot really is timeless, your post is just one of the many which proof that. But knowing and actually seeing that, that's two different things
If you got inspired by your deck then that's really all that matters the most. After all; you're the one who does the reading therefor you should feel comfortable and familiar, at peace I'd say, with whatever deck you're using.
However, a couple of the beginner books I have been reading have said that it's good to get to know the cards by looking at the symbolism in the pictures and really studying what it means to you. Since the botticelli deck uses actual paintings, I feel like it can be a bit sparse on the symbolism of some of the other decks. If I really feel connected with this deck should I just work with it?
Absolutely.
I
just looked up your deck and first of all I have to say that it really looks fascinating. Leave it to Aeclectic to have it in their database
So, although the
symbols could be a little sparse (I'm a little in between there) the paintings
as a whole most certainly don't seem to be. It's not just symbols here in my opinion, it's basically the entire scenery on the card which represents / symbolizes a certain meaning and/or message. And although it's not easy to tell from using the database it seems to me as if there's quite a lot to 'read' (and discover) in their facial expressions alone. Which I think can also really have their own meaning here. Considering that Tarot mostly deals with human matters I'd think it's quite fitting too.
And well, sparse or detailed - to me - all boils down to personal choice. Take the Rider-Waite, its cards are a little sparse on details when you'd compare this to, say, Druidcraft or Tarot of Dreams / Gilded. But for me that has never been much of an issue. Although the experience could be different all work quite good for me.
As some of the others already said: In the end it all boils down to your connection and your feeling with cards. I started out,
years ago, with a deck which wasn't even 'officially' recognized as a deck. As in: the included booklet would say several times "This is not a real tarot deck" and "don't use it as such". I eventually
did use it and even though the start was a little rough (the used suits were different yet did match that of those used in Tarot) it actually worked out very well for me. And it were mainly those cards which, more or less, aroused my curiosity and made me discover so much more about Tarot (including these forums).
SO yah...
Definitely go with whatever appeals to you. But always remember that there really isn't something like a "better deck". Better really goes so far as your own personal feeling for the deck.
And well, having more decks can sometimes also be a very pleasant experience. I can still lose myself for hours with just going over my Druidcraft tarot, even though I hardly use it for full readings.
So yah, there you have it, my 2 cents on this