Choosing The Right Tarot Deck
by Kelly O'Tillery
Choosing your first Tarot deck can be a daunting task. There are many, many decks from which to choose and you will probably find yourself attracted to quite a few. Here are some guidelines and things to consider before and during your search for the perfect deck.
Color is an important ingredient in most decks, some are printed in bright vibrant colors and others in soft pastels. Think about your favorite colors before you begin your search. Do you like bold bright colors, or do you prefer softer shades? Knowing this will help you choose the cards which are best for you. Color plays an important role in the cards. Colors express motivation and excitement, happiness and sadness, fear and anger. The colors in a particular card give the reader many clues as to its significance and meaning.
The majority of decks are similar in size to regular rectangular playing cards. However, you will also find decks with large round cards, rectangular-shaped oversized cards, as well as small, even tiny cards. The small cards are great when you travel, or if you take them with you when you go out, they fit easily into a pocket or purse. Consider how the cards fit and feel in your hands, do they fit comfortably or do they feel awkward and hard to handle? Try shuffling the cards, notice if they are slippery and hard to control. This will help you determine if they are the right size and feel for you.
The Tarot has over time taken on many themes and distinctions, reflecting the images and symbols of antiquity as well as contemporary life. With so much diversity to choose from, you will surely find a deck that expresses your individuality and speaks to your heart and mind. If you enjoy history or want a touch of ancient mythology to your cards, there are many decks which claim to be reproductions of the original woodblock cards of the 15th and 17th century: There's the Mantegna Tarocchi, Paris Tarot, and Centuries Tarot to name just a few.
Theme decks include everything from historical periods and events to plants and animals: The Renaissance Tarot, Medieval Scapini Tarot, Arthurian Tarot, Angel Tarot, Cat People Tarot, Herbal Tarot, Flower Tarot, and The Art Nouveau Tarot. If you enjoy foreign peoples and places there are also decks based on the diverse cultures of the world: The Chinese Tarot, Egyptian Tarot, Native American Tarot, Sicilian Tarot, Swiss Tarot, plus many, many more. Each deck should come with a small instruction booklet on how to read the cards, some also include a couple of spreads, (a pattern for laying out the cards for a reading).
The Rider Waite Tarot has proved to be a very popular Tarot deck. Designed by Arthur Edward Waite and painted by Pamela Colman Smith, the cards first appeared in 1910. The scenes and images of this particular Tarot so captured the realities of life, that many of the newer Tarot decks have based their designs on the Rider Waite Tarot. This is an excellent deck for beginning readers of the Tarot. Though not as personalized as some of the other decks, many find the images and symbolism of this deck easy to recognize and understand which makes it an excellent learning deck.
This is another important point to consider: the ease or difficulty you will experience in learning a particular deck. While a deck may be beautiful and interesting to look at, if you are not able to form some immediate impressions and understandings from the images and symbols on the cards, you may in the long run find the deck you chose just too difficult to learn.
If you have your choices narrowed down to three or four Tarot decks, but find you are still having difficulty choosing, try holding a Pendulum over the decks and asking which one is the best for you. Muscle testing while holding a deck in your hand is also an excellent way to enlist the assistance of your higher self in deciding which Tarot deck is best for you.
The purpose of the Tarot is to build a bridge of communication between you and the Universal energies which guide your life, to gain information and understanding of the challenges and opportunities you experience, and to create trust and faith as a co-creator in your life. Keep this in mind as you choose the right Tarot deck for you.
Kelly O'Tillery is a professional Astrologer, Tarot reader, and Instructor in Metaphysical practices. She can be reached at Astrology of Alexandria for questions and readings.
(702) 278-1447, or e-mail, Otillery@aol.com
|
