How to Choose Your First Tarot Deck: A Reader's Honest Guide

I've owned over forty tarot decks in my career. Some I loved immediately. Some grew on me over months. And a few — I'll be honest — sit unused on a shelf because they looked beautiful in photos but felt wrong in my hands. After fifteen years and over ten thousand readings at CosmicSelf, I want to save you from that last category.

Choosing your first tarot deck feels like a big decision, and in some ways it is — this will be the tool you use to develop one of the most profound skills you can learn. But here's what I wish someone had told me at the start: you can't really get it wrong. Any standard 78-card deck will teach you tarot. The "perfect" deck is simply the one that makes you want to pick it up every day.

That said, some decks are dramatically better for beginners than others. Let me explain why.

Why Your First Deck Matters (But Not in the Way You Think)

There's a romantic myth that your first tarot deck must be gifted to you. This is completely untrue — and worse, it stops people from starting their practice. Buy your own deck. Choose it yourself. The connection between reader and deck is built through use, not through how you acquired it.

What actually matters is this: your first deck shapes how you learn the tarot language. If the imagery is clear and intuitive, you'll develop your reading skills faster because you can "see" the card's meaning without memorising a booklet. If the imagery is abstract or unconventional, you'll spend more time confused and less time reading — and many beginners quit during this frustration phase.

This is why I almost always recommend the same starting point.

The Rider Waite Tarot: Why It's Still the Best First Deck

The Original Rider Waite Tarot, first published in 1910, remains the most widely used deck in the world for one simple reason: Pamela Colman Smith illustrated every single card with a scene that tells a story.

Before the Rider Waite, Minor Arcana cards (the 56 "suit" cards) showed only pips — like playing cards. Imagine trying to learn the meaning of the Five of Cups by looking at five cups arranged on a blank background. Now imagine looking at a figure in a black cloak, head bowed in grief, with three cups spilled before them and two still standing behind them — cups they haven't noticed yet.

That scene teaches you the card's meaning instantly: loss and grief, yes, but also the message that not all is lost — there's still something to hold onto. You didn't need a book to understand that. You saw it.

This is why every tarot teacher, every book, and every course references this deck. When I teach tarot at CosmicSelf workshops, I tell students: "Learn Rider Waite first. Then branch out to any deck that calls to you. But learn the visual language here."

What the Deck Includes

The standard Rider Waite deck contains 78 cards and an instructional booklet written by Arthur Edward Waite himself. The cards are slightly larger than playing cards — about 12cm × 7cm — which some people find comfortable and others find awkward to shuffle. If you have smaller hands, this is worth considering.

The colour palette is deliberately muted — yellows, blues, greys — which some people find calming and others find dull. This is purely aesthetic preference and has zero impact on reading accuracy.

My Honest Criticism

After fifteen years, I'll admit the Rider Waite isn't perfect. The imagery, created in 1909, reflects the social attitudes of that era — the figures are predominantly white and European, the gender roles are traditional, and some symbolism feels dated. These are legitimate criticisms, and they're part of why modern alternatives exist.

But as a learning tool, it remains unmatched. Learn here, then find your forever deck.

The Modern Witch Tarot: Best Modern Alternative

If the Rider Waite's century-old aesthetic doesn't resonate with you, Lisa Sterle's Modern Witch Tarot is the deck I recommend most often as an alternative first deck.

It follows the exact same structure and symbolism as Rider Waite — so every guidebook, course, and tutorial still applies — but the illustrations feature diverse, contemporary women in modern settings. The colours are vibrant and bold. The energy feels current.

I had a twenty-three-year-old client who told me she "couldn't connect" with tarot. She'd tried the Rider Waite and found it "old-fashioned and disconnected from my life." I lent her my Modern Witch deck for a week. She came back having done a reading every single day. "I can see myself in these cards," she said. That's the power of imagery that reflects you.

Which One Should You Choose?

If you want to learn tarot "properly" with the most educational tool available, and aesthetics aren't your priority: Rider Waite.

If you want a deck that feels contemporary, inclusive, and visually exciting, and you'll still learn the same system: Modern Witch.

Both are excellent. Both will teach you. Choose the one you'll actually use.

What to Look for in Any First Deck

Full Scenic Illustrations on All 78 Cards

This is non-negotiable for a first deck. Some decks illustrate only the 22 Major Arcana and leave the Minor Arcana as pips. These are beautiful for experienced readers but terrible for beginners. Make sure every card tells a visual story.

A Companion Guidebook

Your first deck should include a booklet or book that explains each card's meaning. Eventually you'll read intuitively, but in the beginning, having a reference is essential. Both Rider Waite and Modern Witch include guidebooks.

Standard 78-Card Structure

Some decks add extra cards, remove cards, or reorganise the structure. These are creative expressions, but they make learning confusing. Stick with the standard: 22 Major Arcana + 56 Minor Arcana (14 each of Cups, Pentacles, Swords, Wands).

Comfortable Size and Card Stock

You'll be shuffling these cards daily. If they're too large for your hands, too slippery, or too stiff, you'll find excuses not to practice. If possible, handle a deck before buying. If shopping online, check reviews specifically about card quality and shuffle feel.

Decks to Avoid as Your First

Oracle decks are not tarot. They're beautiful, meaningful, and valid — but they follow different rules (varying card counts, no standardised meanings). Learn tarot first, then explore oracles.

Themed novelty decks (movie tie-ins, joke decks, fashion brand decks) may look fun but often sacrifice symbolic accuracy for aesthetic. Save these for your collection once you know the system.

Extremely abstract or minimalist decks (like the Wild Unknown or Thoth) are stunning but require existing tarot knowledge to read. They're intermediate-to-advanced tools, not beginner ones.

How to Start Reading Once You Have Your Deck

Week One: Just Look

Spend the first three days simply looking through all 78 cards. Don't read the booklet yet. Sort them into piles: cards you like, cards you don't like, cards that confuse you. Notice your emotional reactions — these are your first intuitive readings.

Week Two: One Card Daily

Each morning, shuffle and pull one card. Look at the image. What story do you see? What emotion do you feel? Only then look up the "official" meaning in the booklet. Compare your intuition to the textbook meaning — you'll be surprised how often they align.

Week Three: Three-Card Spreads

Past, Present, Future. Pull three cards and practice seeing how they connect. How does the past card flow into the present? How does the present point toward the future? This is where tarot starts to feel like a conversation rather than flashcards.

Try our free tarot reading tool to see how digital readings compare with your physical practice. Many of my students find it helpful to do both — the digital reading as a second opinion, the physical reading as primary practice.

Month Two: Read for Others

The fastest way to develop your skills is reading for other people. Their questions are different from yours, their energy is different, and the cards respond differently. Start with friends who are patient and curious. Tell them honestly: "I'm learning. Let's explore together."

Caring for Your Deck

Store your cards in a cloth bag, wooden box, or wrapped in silk. Some readers place a crystal on top of their deck when not in use — Clear Quartz for clarity or Amethyst for intuition. Visit our shop for crystals and tarot accessories.

Cleanse your deck monthly by knocking on it three times (clearing stagnant energy), shuffling seven times (resetting the order), or leaving it in moonlight overnight during a full moon. Check our moon calendar for the next full moon.

FAQ

Do I need to be psychic to read tarot?

No. Tarot is a skill, not a supernatural gift. Anyone can learn to read cards through practice and study, just as anyone can learn to play piano. Some people have natural aptitude — like musical prodigies — but dedication matters more than talent. I've trained hundreds of completely "non-psychic" people who became excellent readers.

How long does it take to learn tarot?

You can do basic readings within two weeks of daily practice. Competent readings take about three to six months. Mastery is a lifelong journey — after fifteen years, I'm still learning. The cards have layers of meaning that reveal themselves gradually. That's what makes tarot endlessly fascinating.

Can tarot predict the future?

Tarot shows potential outcomes based on current energy and trajectory. It's more like a weather forecast than a prophecy — "if current conditions continue, here's what's likely." You always have free will to change course. The cards illuminate possibilities; you make the choices.

Is it bad luck to buy your own deck?

Absolutely not. This superstition has zero basis in any tarot tradition I've studied. Buy your own deck, choose it with intention, and build your relationship with it through daily practice. The magic is in the practice, not the purchase method.

How many decks do I need?

One. Seriously. Start with one deck and use it for at least six months before adding another. I see beginners collect five or six decks before they can read any of them competently. Depth of relationship with one deck beats superficial familiarity with many.