How Do I Choose a Tarot or Oracle Deck?
Choosing a tarot or oracle deck does not have to be complicated. Louise shares a simple way to find a deck that feels right for you.
People sometimes ask me how they are supposed to choose the right tarot or oracle deck. There are so many of them now that it can feel a little overwhelming.
My honest answer is simple. There is not one deck that is right for everyone.
Start with the pictures
If you are buying your first deck, spend a little time looking at the artwork. Do the images draw you in? Do you understand something from them before reading the guidebook? Does the deck make you curious?
That matters because you are going to spend time looking at these cards. If the artwork means nothing to you, learning the deck can become a chore.
Tarot and oracle cards are not quite the same
A tarot deck usually follows a recognised structure, with 78 cards divided into the Major Arcana and Minor Arcana. Oracle decks are much more varied. The number of cards, themes and way of working can be completely different from one deck to another.
Neither is better. They simply give you different ways to explore a question.
Do you need to know all the meanings?
No. I think this is one of the biggest worries people have when they first start.
You do not have to memorise every card before you can sit with a deck. Look at the picture. Notice what catches your attention. Think about the question you are asking. Then use the guidebook if you need another layer.
Over time, the cards start to become familiar in a much more natural way.
Sometimes the deck chooses you
I have several decks and I do not reach for the same one every time. Sometimes I know immediately which deck feels right for a particular reading. Other times I will look through a few before deciding.
That does not mean the deck is predicting anything. It is simply part of how I connect with the reading and the person I am reading for.
What if you are choosing a deck for yourself?
Do not worry too much about choosing perfectly. Look at the artwork, read a little about the deck and see whether the theme interests you.
If you are new to tarot, a traditional Rider Waite Smith based deck can make learning easier because there are so many books and resources available. If you are more drawn to an unusual oracle deck, there is nothing wrong with starting there instead.
The best deck is often the one that makes you want to pick it up and explore.
And if you are having a reading
You do not need to know which deck should be used. When I read for someone, I choose the deck or decks that feel appropriate to the person and the question. Sometimes tarot feels right. Sometimes an oracle deck adds something different. Sometimes I use more than one.
The cards are there to help us look at what is happening, what you may not be seeing clearly and what possibilities might be around you. They are not there to tell you that one fixed future is guaranteed.
If you are curious about how a tarot or oracle reading might work for you, you are welcome to explore a reading with me or get in touch first if you have questions.