a look at my Tarot Decks
It goes without saying that there is an abundance of Tarot decks for us to choose from. So how do you know which one works for you? Well, I am sorry to say that it may be by trial and error that you will discover The One(s). Yes, you can and most likely will, have more than one deck you are absolutely fond of. From personal experience, many dollars have been spent on my Tarot journey trying to find the perfect decks for myself. Some stayed, some didn’t make it, and others have earned their place in my practice. The latter, and the ones on this page, are The Ones for me. Will there be more? Most likely.
Now before we get into it, why did I choose to study and work with Tarot? Do I need it to communicate with Spirit? No. Do I just read the cards and call it a day? No.
I use Tarot cards for a few main reasons. I find that clients, family and friends I read for, sometimes enjoy seeing something in front of them. It seems to take the pressure off some clients who may be a bit fearful of Spirit communication. They enjoy being an active part in their reading, and who am I to take that away. I also find that at times messages and communication from Spirit flow more easily, and am sometimes surprised by the details added to the session through the cards. It is as if Spirit Guides, loved Ones, Angels, Ancestors are gathered around looking at the cards with us. They are here with or without the Tarot, but it is a fun feeling to have. Lastly, as a former Art student and daughter of my very talented artistic Mom, I really enjoy the art and energy artists have put into their work. We are here for such a short time, why not enjoy our practice in the ways that bring joy?
The interesting thing about Tarot that I experienced early on in my journey, is that sometimes, the message you get, or the feeling you get while looking at a card, does not match its traditional meaning. Why is that? Honestly, I am still trying to understand this phenomena but I like to think of it as scrying or a spirit download. The definition of Scrying is: “Scrying is an ancient divination practice that involves gazing into a reflective or translucent surface to enter a meditative state, clear the mind, and receive intuitive visions, symbolic messages, or hidden knowledge.” I don’t have a quartz or obsidian sphere as you usually see in movies when a Fortune Teller reads for the characters — although I wouldn’t mind one for fun. What happens for me is I will stare into space, or a point on my desk, sometimes the trees outside my window or whatever is in front of me at the time, and sometimes, a Tarot card will do that. It will attract my attention and a message, different from its original or traditional meaning will come to me, and I will not be able to see or feel something different. Author Mat Auryn mentions this phenomena in his wonderful book, The Psychic Art of Tarot and when I came across his mention of this, I felt very excited as I realized I wasn’t the only one experiencing it, and that I could, and should, trust it. So I do, and my readings, with or without the cards, are better for it.
Now, without further ado, here are my go-to decks. Enjoy!
*Not sponsored, not affiliated – and completely my own opinion.
Tarot for Light Seers - by Chris-Anne
Chris-Anne’s Tarot for Light Seers is my go-to and all time favourite. As much as I like to switch from one deck to another to keep things interesting and varied, this one speaks to me on a different level.
Her use of unique imagery, symbols, colours and her variety of characters, add different layers of interpretation to a reading. You find yourself pausing as the cards appear to take in all the details and meanings, but I find it awakens the psychic senses even more than other decks. I appreciate her use of colours as a key element of an extra layer of interpretation as they correspond to the chakras associated with each card’s emotions. Tarot can be heavy in its messages at times but even then, this deck offers a layer of hope and optimism that is not always found in most decks.
The book is a wonderful addition to Chris-Anne’s Tarot for Light Seers. I highly recommend purchasing it with the cards as it includes a story attached to each archetype, followed by its message, a quote and a draw you can perform with the intention of the chosen card. She also includes a picture of each one with dynamic descriptions of the chosen elements she decided to include. The book itself is a fascinating and entertaining read, and is a great companion to study the Tarot.
As unique as it is, Chris-Anne still follows the echoes of the classic Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) deck, which makes it beginner friendly.
Woman Tarot – by Daisy & Julie Bodin, illustrated by Ana Eyes
Don’t be fooled by its title, The Woman Tarot is a french deck. However if you already have a knowledge of reading Tarot this will not stop you from enjoying it as it follows closely the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot. The Woman Tarot comes in a beautiful box with a Guidebook in full colour. The cards are bigger than most decks so if you have smaller hands, you may have to adjust your hold. The cards are glossy with gilded sides and shuffle beautifully.
I fell in love with Ana Eyes’ illustrations. The chosen colour palette is very pleasing and still holds a sense of the chakras in each card, simply more muted than Chris-Anne’s deck. Each character has their eyes closed, which offers a sense of calm instead of urgency even in the more complex cards of the Tarot. This simple detail reminds us to take life one step at a time, one day at a time, to trust in ourselves and to keep going.
Daisy & Julie Bodin’s deck closely follow the traditional Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) deck, therefore, even if you do not speak French this Tarot is beginner friendly.
Tarot of the Woodland Wardens - by Jessica Roux
Jessica Roux’s Tarot of the Woodland Wardens is one of the most popular Tarot decks along with her Woodland Wardens Oracle, and understandably so.
Jessica Roux chose each animal archetype very carefully in order to offer extra depth to the meaning of the cards by associating an element of nature we can relate to. When using this deck, you shouldn’t stop at the traditional meaning of the card. You need to pay attention to the animal represented and how its personality in the wild can influence or add to the meaning of each card.
The colour palette and style are soft, gentle, and nothing is left to chance. The illustrations are not busy with extra symbols yet hold hidden imagery as a personal touch from its creator. The cards are very pleasant to hold despite their size being a bit bigger.
Jessica Roux follows closely the traditional Rider-Waite-Smith imagery, therefore this deck is beginner friendly.
Zodiac Tarot – written by Cecilia Lattari, illustrated by Ana Chavez
I received Cecilia Lattari’s Zodiac Tarot when I wanted to study astrology and its association to the Tarot. The extra depth of meaning is fascinating as it helps understand the planets’ and the zodiac’s influences on our lives.
The Zodiac Tarot comes with a full colour booklet, however keep in mind that the Guidebook does not include detailed descriptions of the astral bodies and their meaning. Some guidance is included but you need to already be familiar with astrology, or you need to use an additional source of information as this is not meant to be used as a study guide.
The cards are glossy and the colour palette and style of this deck is beautiful. The illustrations are very much like the Rider-Waite-Smith deck but with a touch of bohemian design. The backgrounds being black really make the imagery pop and each card has its own astral symbol. The Court cards hold the four elements: Fire, Water, Air and Earth. Understanding how these symbols and their archetypes work together add a level of interpretation that I have not found in many decks.
Cecilia Lattari’s Zodiac Tarot is beginner friendly.
TrueBlack - by Arthur Wang
Arthur Wang took Tarot cards to the next level. The illustrations are hand painted and are beautifully haunting. The cards are thick and sturdy with a rose petal texture and the sides of the cards are as black as the rest. The backs are adorned with a beautiful, glossy star map.
Arthur Wang’s interpretation of the archetypes can stray from the traditional Rider-Waite-Smith illustrations giving the deck an edge some beginners may find challenging. The cards’ names are black, matching the background so as to not take away from the artwork which can make them challenging to read. The Minors’ suits names are not present but the artwork represents each one really well.
Keep in mind that this deck portrays some nudity, therefore if you or your clients are sensitive to this TrueBlack may not be the deck for you. However, the figures are painted very beautifully and tastefully.
A detail TrueBlack holds is found in the Major Arcana cards. Each one holds a secret in glossy black placed in the background. Their meanings are to be found in the Guidebook, and add an extra element of Arthur Wang’s story, mind, and interpretation of the cards.
TrueBlack may not be entirely beginner friendly but it does deserve its place as a collectible piece of art.
Ephemere – co-written by Mat Auryn and Arthur Wang
Ephemere is a beautiful collaboration between Arthur Wang and author Mat Auryn. This deck is the opposite of TrueBlack in its design and atmosphere, however it too has a rose petal texture, beautiful artwork, and the cards are labelled in the same fashion as its counterpart.
In this deck, the Major Arcanas are not what you think they are. They do not follow the Fool’s Journey as the traditional Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot. Mat Auryn wanted to portray the Hero’s Journey, which means that you are taken on a brand new adventure. Each Major Arcana in Ephemere has similarities to the traditional Arcanas, but the creators worked together to bring us closer to the human experience of life. It is a beautiful tool to encourage the mind in thinking differently about ourselves, our paths, our challenges and victories.
Ephemere’s design gives it a sense of Greek Mythology and Heros across time where ancient knowledge is being uncovered through every Tarot draw and through every golden detail in the Majors’ backgrounds. Keep in mind that this deck portrays some nudity, so if you or your clients are sensitive to this, Ephemere may not be the deck for you. However, the figures are painted beautifully and tastefully.
Ephemere can challenge Tarot readers due to it being the Hero’s Journey, but it deserves its place as a beautiful tool and artwork.
Fortuna - by Maria J. Fajardo Praena
Fortuna by Maria J. Fajardo Praena is gorgeous and designed beautifully. Maria’s illustrations take you on a journey of cosmic exploration by using the symbols of the Zodiac and the Planets for added interpretation. The cards feel like they hold mysteries, stories, secrets to uncover from another time or from different worlds. I love picking up Fortuna when I look for a different experience, and to stretch my learning further.
Some of the names are changed in this deck which keeps it interesting and brings another element of understanding. For instance The Fool is The Seeker, The Hierophant is The Oracle, The Wheel of Fortune is Fortuna, Temperance is Alchemy and The World is The Universe. The Minors are different as well – The Wands are Candles, The Cups are Elixirs, The Swords are Keys, and The Pentacles are Talismans. The Court cards are Princess for Pages, Prince for Knights, Queen and Kings.
Fortuna is a deck for seasoned Tarot readers as it does not portray the traditional imagery from the Rider-Waite-Smith deck.
And there you have it. I hope you have enjoyed this journey through my decks and feel free to contact me if you have any questions, comments or recommendations. What are your favourite decks?
Stay tuned for future additions!
Tarot’s “visual metaphors sent ripples into an undercurrent that I’d always sensed was there but didn’t know how to access. And as that layer of my being began to stir, I found myself drawn into a wider ebb and flow of something mythic. Something that locked me into a knowing that life — mine, the lives of the people around me, the inhabitants of earth and the cosmos at large — was ripe with hidden meaning.”
Jessica Dore - “Tarot for Change”