a look at my personal Tarot Decks
It goes without saying that there is an abundance of Tarot decks out there 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 said perfect deck(s) for me. Some stayed, some didn’t make it, and others I have kept and will keep for the rest of my days. Yes, I am that serious. 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 simply 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 for 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 enjoy using them also because at times I find messages and communication from Spirit to flow more easily, and I 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 and 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, daughter of my very talented artistic Mom, how could I not 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 as found on Google 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. That’s the way Spirit works sometimes. Some Tarot practitioners may disagree with this and that’s okay. 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 this, 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, and why. 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 have. I personally appreciate her use of colours as a key element of an extra layer of interpretation. They seem to correspond to the chakras associated with each card. Tarot can at times be heavy in its messages 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. It is modern and almost more intuitive than its classic counterpart.
Woman Tarot – by Daisy & Julie Bodin, illustrated by Ana Eyes
Don’t be fooled by its title. The Woman Tarot is a french deck. Last I checked it is not available in English. However, if you already have a knowledge of reading Tarot this will not stop you from using it. If you need to refer to the Guidebook however, keep in mind that you will have to find a way to translate it, or use another deck’s Guidebook. This Tarot deck comes in a beautiful box with a gorgeous book in full colour. The cards are a little bigger than most decks so if you have smaller hands like I do, you may have to adjust your hold. The cards are glossy with gilded sides and slide beautifully.
I fell in love with Ana Eyes’ illustrations for this deck. The chosen colour palette is very calm, soothing and 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, and to breathe. To trust in ourselves and to keep going. Who knew that this one detail could affect a reading and its sitter so much?
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 deck, and understandably so. It comes in a beautiful box-set with a good sized book. The illustrations in the Guide book are grey however which to me is a bit of a missed opportunity. I do prefer it when the images are in colour as I find it helps study them better, but it is only a minor detail compared to the quality of this deck.
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 can’t stop at the traditional meaning of the card. You need, or should, pay attention to the animal represented and how their 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 packed with extra symbols; they get to the point with a sprinkle of personal touch from its creator in some hidden imagery. The cards are soft and very pleasant to hold despite their size being a bit bigger.
When I use Tarot cards in sessions, I shuffle them and whichever ones fall out are the ones meant to be read. I find that this deck does not like to be used in that way as the cards don’t seem to fall out for me the same way my other decks do. I am still getting acquainted with the Woodland Wardens in that way, but working with it is wonderful, and the use of animal archetypes is a brilliant idea.
Jessica Roux follows the traditional Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) imagery, therefore this deck is beginner friendly.
Zodiac Tarot – written by Cecilia Lattari, illustrated by Ana Chavez
I received Cecilia Lattari’s deck Zodiac Tarot when I wanted to study astrology and its association to the Tarot. The extra depth was and still is fascinating to me as it helps understand the planets’ influences on our lives. The Zodiac Tarot comes in a nice box with a full colour booklet. Keep in mind that the Guide book does not include detailed descriptions of the astral bodies and their meaning. Some descriptions are included but you need to have prior knowledge of the Zodiac and the Planets, 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 slide really well.
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 – zodiac signs and planets, as well as the four elements: Fire, Water, Air and Earth associated with the Court cards and Minor Arcanas. 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 unique and beginner friendly.
TrueBlack - by Arthur Wang
Arthur Wang took Tarot cards to the next level. The box the deck comes in sets the tone as soon as you look at it. The illustrations are hand painted, not made with AI and are beautiful, haunting, and moody. They take you on a completely different journey than you might expect from a Tarot deck. The quality is like nothing I have experienced before; the texture feels like rose petals, and the cards themselves are thick and sturdy. The side of the cards are as black as the rest and the backs are adorned with a beautiful, glossy star map. Because the cards are thicker, the deck is taller when stacked compared to regular decks.
Arthur Wang truly thought outside the box and applied his artistic skills beautifully. His interpretation of the archetypes can stray from the traditional Rider-Waite-Smith illustrations so I would say that TrueBlack can be a beginner friendly deck, but it does come with some challenges. The names of each card is a little tricky to see as they are black, matching the background so as to not take away from the artwork. Arthur Wang uses one word on each card which does not cause issues for the Major Arcanas but for the Minors for instance, Aces are called Ace. Not Ace of Wands, Ace of Cups and so on. The cards that follow are in Roman numbers but are not followed by their suits. For instance the 2 of Swords will be II, and you will have to look at the image to recognize what suit it belongs to. The Court cards are named Page, Knight, Queen, and King, and you will have to look at their images to understand where they belong.
Keep in mind that this deck portrays some nudity, so if you are sensitive to this TrueBlack may not be the deck for you. However, the figures are painted very beautifully and tastefully.
A beautiful detail TrueBlack holds is found in the Major Arcana cards. Each one holds a secret design in glossy black 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 to appreciate and stretch the mind.
Ephemere – co-written by Mat Auryn and Arthur Wang
Ephemere is a beautiful collaboration between Arthur Wang and Mat Auryn, author of Psychic Witch, and The Psychic Art of Tarot, who I have mentioned above. This deck is the opposite of its counterpart TrueBlack in its design and atmosphere, however the quality of the box and its cards are the same. It has a rose petal texture, beautiful artwork, and the same way is used for the name of each card.
What is very different in this deck, is that the Major Arcanas are not what you think they are. This deck does not follow the Fool’s Journey as the traditional Rider-Waite-Smith deck does. Mat Auryn wanted this deck to follow the Hero’s Journey. Which means that this deck is a brand new adventure if you are used to the Fool’s Journey as I am. Each Major Arcana in Ephemere has similarities to the traditional Arcanas but Mat Auryn and Arthur Wang worked together to bring us a journey closer to the human experience of life. Ephemere, has in a way, modernized Tarot and the interpretations of its cards. It is a beautiful tool to encourage the mind in thinking differently about yourself, your own journey and in working with your other decks.
Ephemere is soft in its design compared to TrueBlack. The gold details in the cards and the way the fabric moves around the bodies of the different Archetypes, makes it feel and look like it came from Greek Mythology, and ancient knowledge is being uncovered. Keep in mind that just as TrueBlack, this deck portrays some nudity, so if you are sensitive to this, Ephemere may not be the deck for you. However, the figures are painted very beautifully and tastefully, as is the style of Arthur Wang.
Ephemere challenges even the seasoned Tarot reader due to it being the Hero’s Journey and not the Fool’s Journey, but as its counterpart, 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. It comes in different colours which offers a different mood for each deck and allows you to choose what speaks to you while having the same designs for each version. Maria’s illustrations take you on a journey of cosmic exploration by using the symbols of the Zodiac and the Planets for added interpretation. Each of the Major Arcana feel as if they hold a mystery, a story, a secret to uncover from ancient times or from a different world, as if something else is speaking to you through the cards by using symbols and carefully organized designs.
Some of the names are changed in this deck which to me keeps it interesting and makes you tilt your head as it 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. I still get confused at times between certain cards from this deck as I learned from the traditional Rider-Waite-Smith style, but I love picking up Fortuna when I feel I want extra mystery, a different experience and to stretch my learning further.
I hope you have enjoyed this journey through my personal decks. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions, comments or recommendations. What are your favourite decks?
Stay tuned for future additions!
