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Tarot:
Choosing a Tarot Deck
A Beginner’s Guide
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by Gigi Miner |
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This month is my one-year anniversary here at The Meta Arts. I cannot even begin to imagine that it has been a whole year. Robbie and Rhonda have been the most gracious of hostesses. I am looking forward to this next year. Since I have taken an entire twelve months to talk with you about various tarot cards, I thought for this particular issue that I would provide you with some guidance, should any of you who read this column decide that you want to take up the cards yourself. Enjoy!
Choosing a Tarot Deck
A Beginner’s Guide
There are many ideas behind what is considered “good advice” for anyone looking to purchase and use their first deck of Tarot Cards. Some will admonish against the sins of a deck “talking” to the user. Others will claim that any and all beginners should start with the Rider-Waite-Smith deck. Now, place the need for a reference book into the jumble. This will exponentially add to the kinds of advice to be found. What is a new tarotist to do?
Let us begin with why one might want to use a deck of tarot cards. Many people first pick up the tarot out of a curiosity about seeing the future or divination. This seems to be the prevalent idea behind someone wanting to try out the cards. This also is why so many people fear them. There are tons of fables and old wives’ tales about tarot cards. Most are just what they sound like, bunk. The cards do not cause possession or the loss of one’s eternal soul. They are pieces of cardstock with pictures on them. I cannot recall anyone being possessed or vanquished to hell via some tree pulp. Tarot is a tool, nothing else. They have no life of their own nor are they inherently evil or otherwise powerful. A shovel is a tool. A washing machine is a tool. Tarot cards are a tool. It really is that simple. Once a person gets past the goose bumps factor of the cards, a good number will put them away and never look at them again. It was just a passing fad. However, if one will take the time to explore these tools with the help of a decent reference book, there might yet be some very valuable use from these little works of art.
Anyone who has ever read what I have written about the cards has a clue that I do not put a good deal of stock into the mumbo-jumbo mentality that so many subscribe to when using the tarot. Yes, there is the potential to get a jump on something in your life. Yes, you could very well see a glimpse into your future if you know how to use the cards and do not easily fall prey to paranoia or fatalism. However, I prefer to explore the cards as something that can open doors to our psyches and allow us to take control of our lives, rather then be victims of “fate.” There is enough in our lives that forces us to feel out of control; would it not be nice to have something that can allow us to feel a little more in control? Tarot is one of those things.
Now that we have gotten beyond the twilight zone version of tarot, we need to decide which deck might be best for us. Again, the advice on the subject is as varied as the readers. Like anything else in life, opinions may vary. I can only tell you what I consider to be sound, objective advice; at least as much as anyone is able to be objective. For me, tarot is a wonderful device that allows me to look beyond the veil of daily life into the places so often neglected. The modern world is so busy in so many ways; it is no wonder that we lack the ability to focus on the quiet and subtle things that would best guide us. Tarot can help us focus our attention on that inner guidance. Whether it is the stimuli of the artwork or the fact that we are sitting still for five minutes, thus allowing us to hear something heretofore overpowered, the fact remains that these cards can be a very valuable tool to the person willing to look inside of themselves long enough to affect change.
While there are many factors involved with choosing a deck, one thing remains – if you do not like it, you will not use it. That said, another factor is whether you can find a book that can help you until you feel more comfortable with the cards. Here is the shameless self-promoting plug: If you want a book that fits the cards, either you can buy an accompanying book to the deck, or you can buy “Light-of-Day Tarot & Dream Work”, by yours truly. Light-of-Day gives you the tools that you need to read any deck that you choose while harnessing the basics. It will take more time and work to use this book, but it will also give you a chance to connect with your chosen deck in a very personal way, or to find out if the deck that you have chosen is not what you need. Plug over.
Many experts will tell you to start with the Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) deck. This is mostly because there is more written on this deck then on nearly any other. This is also because the pips are illustrated. What is a pip? I believe they sang backup to Gladys Knight. Actually, a pip is a numbered card. In a tarot deck, there are usually 78 cards. Twenty-two of these cards are called Majors, the rest Minors, divided into Arcana. An arcanum is more accurately translated as “secret knowledge.” In the case of the tarot deck, the arcana are two separate decks within a deck. The Majors are usually illustrated with some picture that helps lead to the artist’s meaning for that card. In the Minors, cards are set up much like a regular deck of playing cards. They progress Ace through King. They also are divided by suite, much like the playing cards. The suites, though they may correspond to the playing card suites, are generally, cups, staves, coins, and swords. Variations on these suite names are prevalent.
The pips are the numbered cards, Ace through Ten. On some decks, especially earlier ones, these have only the number and the suite. They do not have the illustrations that might add to the meaning of the card. The RWS deck has illustrated pips, meaning that Ace through Ten will have a picture that helps in discerning the meaning. I would suggest that anyone just starting out with the tarot choose a deck with illustrated pips. It will make your life so much easier in the long run.
While the RWS deck can be used by many people, and there are references abounding for it, it is not necessarily the best deck to choose. However, its basic style carries over into many other decks. Thus, if you find a “clone,” as they are often referred to, you can still have something you like and utilize the many books geared toward the RWS deck. My personal favorite is the “Robin Wood Tarot” deck by Robin Wood. I use it most of the time when I read for others. I do use other decks, but that came only after gaining great comfort with my one, main deck. Once you are able to read one deck well, then the other decks, should you choose to pursue other decks, will come more easily for you. I might also suggest “Tarot Plain and Simple” by Anthony Louis. This book contains illustrations of the Robin Wood deck and gives a myriad of possibilities when it comes to card meanings.
In order for you to find the cards that best fit your taste, many websites online have scans of cards. Take the time to look at as many as possible. Find one that you like. Again, many experts will shake a shameful finger at me for saying such a thing, but I have never been one to take the words of experts over my own inner wisdom (at least not for very long); nor should you. Ultimately, you need to find a deck that you want for the reasons that make the most sense to you. Doing otherwise will only lead to frustration. If you know someone who has a tarot collection (and this is more prevalent then you might think), ask them to show you their decks. Much of the artwork is not available online simply because no one wants to scan all 78 cards of the myriad of decks that are available. Being able to handle and look through the cards is the best way to get a feel for a deck. If you have a new age store in your neighborhood, see if they have open decks and might let you take a look. If all else fails, find some scans online that you like and take a chance. I would also suggest pricing a deck before you buy it.
Many decks are overpriced simply because of where you find them. Buying a used deck might save you a good deal of money. There is nothing wrong with a used deck. If you want to cleanse them, look online for such instructions. They are many and varied. One basic tradition that seems to hold on through the years is to sleep with the deck wrapped in a silk scarf under your pillow. I have not found this to make the cards any easier to read. However, if you have any qualms about using a deck before somehow making it your own, this is one means to make you feel better. Other people smudge the cards through the smoke of sage or some other burning herbs. Others place them on a windowsill to be cleansed by the moonlight. I usually just put them in order (more to make sure that they are all there then anything else) and shuffle them. Do whatever makes you happy. There really are no rules.
Once you have chosen your deck and have found a way to make it your own, take some time simply to look at the pictures on the cards. Take your time. There is no rush. Perhaps have a notebook handy and jot down little notes for each card as you look at it. How does it make you feel? What do you notice about that card? This is the beginning of personalizing the tarot for yourself. You really do not need any big books or well-paid teachers to learn the cards. You need not succumb to superstitions or the many stories you will surely run across. In fact, if you come back here enough times, you just might start to figure out the cards for yourself. Whatever you do, take the time to find out what YOU think and feel about these cards. They really can help you gain some amazing insight if you are willing to see. Most of all have fun; the lighter your heart, the lighter the load, and the better you will be able to hear and see.
Thanks for making my first year at The Meta Arts such a good one by visiting each month. Now go out and find that tarot deck!
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Gigi Miner,
Tarot Consultant,
Author & Teacher
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Gigi Miner is a minister, ordained by the Universal Life Church, and has a Doctorate of Motivation from the same.
“One of the greatest benefits of Tarot is being able to take control of your life rather then be a victim of it,” is the motto of this professional Tarot consultant, author, and teacher, from upstate New York.
Moonlighting as an adult education instructor, Gigi brings that experience into her Tarot and writing work, helping clients and readers to find their own inner wisdom. Gigi has taught classes on tarot in regular and e-formats.
Believing that "laughter is the best medicine,” there is often a lighter tone to her teachings. When conducting an adult-education class, one of the main questions she asks is, "Are you having fun?” If the answer is "yes" then she knows that her students are learning more then if she were teaching in a more traditional mode.
Gigi has written articles for various newsletters, including Tarot Celebrations, World Tarot Network, and Gateway to Tarot. She has released a book entitled, “Light-of-Day Tarot & Dream Work,” which is available at www.lulu.com/ladyfogg.
Her Novel, “Card Shark” is due to be released this fall via the same website.
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Contact Info:
www.geocities.com/
ladyfogg
Email : gigiminer@gmail.com
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