A Tarot Spread for Bonding with Your Deck

a new spread has arrived!

This one was inspired by a lovely reader who reached out asking for a spread to get to know their deck better. Click the image above to learn more and get reading!

How to Buy Used Tarot Decks

My latest second-hand tarot find: The Lioness Oracle Tarot

“But don’t you also have to be gifted your first deck?”

I don’t think any tarot myth gets me more worked up than this one. So it’s probably no surprise that I also love buying used and secondhand tarot decks for my collection. After all, tarot is simply a selection of images printed on cardstock. It’s what we do with them that makes them magical.

Here’s a few suggestions for seeking out these pre-loved decks, and stay tuned for a follow-up post on how to cleanse these and any new decks you’re adding to your collection…

Look Locally

1. Get thrifting: People often donate their collections to thrift stores and I’ve found some wonderful older decks like the Gareth Knight tarot at my local swap shop. Since there’s usually not an “occult/new age” section in these stores, be sure to look around. I’ve found decks in the books section (in their original packaging) and strewn about randomly. Bonus Tip: Let your friends know you’re on the hunt for decks - they can pick them up for you if they find any on their travels and have you pay them back later.

2. Search online: Local listings on Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace often have tarot decks and books. I recently found a lovely copy of The Lioness Oracle Tarot on Facebook Marketplace - such a wonderful surprise. Bonus Tip: Save your search for “tarot” or “tarot decks” so that you’ll be notified when new listings are posted.

3. Swap with your community: Join a tarot meetup (local folx, come on over to the Durham Tarot Club) for the company, of course, and be sure to ask around about any decks people would like to sell or swap. Tarot lovers often buy a lot of decks (I know from experience…) and like to cycle out any that no longer resonate or just didn’t click. Be sure to have something you can offer in exchange, whether it’s another deck, a hug, or a cup of coffee. Bonus Tip: Make a night of it - host a tarot swap where people can bring their pre-loved books, decks, and accessories.

Go Online

1. Check Instagram: Another reason to follow more tarot accounts? These people often sell their old decks on their feeds or stories. You can also search or follow hashtags like #tarotdecksforsale to stay in the loop. Bonus Tip: Create your own listing with decks you’d be willing to swap for. You never know who might love to trade.

2. Join a Facebook group: There are so many dedicated to selling and trading decks like Tarot Marketplace. They’re especially good if you’re looking for a rare of out of print deck, since the members are often die-hard tarot fans with huge collections. Bonus Tip: Communicate quickly as these decks often get snapped up fast.

3. Search on eBay and Etsy: And any other secondhand site you can find. eBay is especially great for vintage and antique decks. If you want a worn, cozy copy of the Rider-Waite-Smith from the 70s you’ve found the right place. Bonus Tip: Some older decks are quite collectible and expensive. You may want to buy a reproduction instead to get a feel for it, then decide if you want to spend the big bucks later.

I hope you have fun hunting for new decks and be sure to share any tips and experiences in the comments below.

Choosing Your First Tarot Deck

Choosing a tarot deck can seem daunting when you’re just starting. With so many options out there (Bohemian Cat Tarot, Steampunk Tarot, even Lisa Frank Tarot!) the choices become epic, fast.

Add the nerves around the system itself – it’s so complicated, how am I ever going to learn all 78 cards, do you mean I can read tarot? – and you’re on the fast track for overwhelm.

In a way, I’m eternally grateful for the limited options I had when I started. In the new age bookstore in my town there were probably only three decks, and among those only one really jumped out to me. It was the classic Rider-Waite-Smith, and it has been my go-to deck ever since.

Now, thanks to the magic of the internet, my collection has grown exponentially. Spending a great deal of time in the tarot-verse has me stumbling on beautiful decks often (with disturbing consequences for my budget!) So with those new to tarot in mind I’ve compiled my tips for choosing your first deck.

Let’s get things started…

1. Go Classic

I’m not one for giving direct instructions, so this is as close as I’ll get: If you want to start off learning from the source, get yourself a copy of the Rider-Waite-Smith deck (or the other OG decks of the other two major systems – the Marseille or the Thoth.)

As a reader who primarily uses the RWS, I’ll speak about that tradition. Not only does it resonate with me the most, but it also serves as an excellent jumping off point for learners.

This deck, published in 1910, is the basis of many modern tarot decks. Known somewhat creepily as “RWS clones,” they’ll be a snap to use after you’ve acquainted yourself with the original. The layout, 22 major arcana cards and 58 illustrated pips in four suits, is full of imagery and symbolism you can read so many ways. Think incorporating astrology, numerology, esoteric traditions such as kabbalah, or simply your intuition.

Personally, I adore the illustrations done by Pamela Coleman Smith. For those not taken by the original, there are many other versions available, mostly with retouched colors. Try the Radiant if you want a vibrant pop or the Universal for a more soothing look. The Albano-Waite even has psychadelic colors if you’re feeling trippy.

And conveniently enough, most tarot books address this system, so you’ll have no shortage of resources at your fingertips. With this in mind, I suggest grabbing a copy of this deck even if it’s not your #1 tarot true love - you can use it as a cross reference when using RWS books and other resources.

2. Shop Around

But say you’re not drawn to the classic, Medieval-style illustrations of the RWS and want to find something more exciting. Maybe you’re curious about a modern deck like The Fountain Tarot or a classic feminist deck like the Motherpeace Tarot.

This is where the internet is truly our friend. Google around and find decks you’re interested. Read reviews and look at as many photos as you can get your paws on. See how the cards are grouped and whether the illustrations resonate with you. You can find plenty of reviews on forums like Aeclectic and on tarot blogs. Keep it light – you don’t need to compile a treatise on why you’re choosing a certain deck. Just follow your curiosity and browse away.

3. Find a Hard Copy

There’s nothing like experiencing the real thing. If you have a metaphysical shop or even a bookstore that carries tarot, stop in and see if they have an opened copy of the deck you can see. Hold the cards, even give them a shuffle if you can. You’ll be handling your deck frequently and how they feel in your hand – the weight of the cardstock, the quality of the printing – is an important part of your experience with a deck.

If you have a friend who reads tarot, ask to see their collection. (I love showing off my cards, and there’s nothing more fun that connecting others with tarot. Plus, it’s fascinating seeing what decks people are drawn to!)

But fear not if you can’t see a deck in person – the quality of printing today is excellent and many reviews address the tactile side of cards. If you’re simply feeling drawn to something, go for it and trust your intuition. Which leads us to my final tip…

4. Follow Your Instincts

Tarot can be used practically and even analytically, but at its root it’s an intuitive tool meant to tap into our subconscious. It’s natural then that how you feel about a deck is the most important thing to keep in mind when making a choice. Your first tarot deck should resonate with a deep part of you, inviting you into its world with captivating images and mystery. Otherwise you won’t be called to work with it and your practice will be a slog when it should sing.

I know people who’ve started with decks outside of any major tarot tradition and developed a lush and personalized reading style with them because they feel deeply connected with the cards. For example, I had a student who resonated deeply with the natural imagery of the Wooden Tarot; as a former naturalist she was immediately able to craft profound and moving readings with the cards because of her natural connection with them. And that’s what’s most important.

Are you finding yourself being strongly drawn to the cards and you’re not sure why? Follow this instinct and get the deck.

I chose the RWS when I was 12 because I was absolutely fascinated with it. I saw the deck and knew I wanted to learn tarot. I was curious, nervous, and in awe of the magical world shown in the cards. Find a deck that does that for you and you’ll be enjoying the world of tarot for years to come.

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Lovely Links & Happenings

Hello lovely readers! How has your week been? It's been a bit of a wild zone over here. We now have a third dog in the house - a majestic Siberian husky who we're watching for a friend. It has been quite a hoot leaving my study to see these three faces:

Gina, everything you say is fascinating! Oh, no you're just holding some food.

This week I delved into the rich realm of The Empress with my first installment of Tarot for Self-Care. I'm so stoked about this series and had so much fun writing this week's piece. 

I also got carried away and made a fragrance inspired by The Empress. A little backstory: my hobby (and part of my former job) is making natural perfume. I keep all my absolutes and essential oils on my desk, and sometimes I glance over and... make just a quick bottle of something new. 

For the curious, this batch featured hibiscus tincture, honey absolute, mimosa, and pink graprefruit essential oil. Definitely a keeper in my book!

I've also been working on some super secret freebies you'll be seeing more of soon, so stay tuned...

Some more things that I found delightful this week:

Came across the gorgeous Circo Tarot - looks like another beautiful deck to add to the wishlist!

Wish this Horror Tarot was still available for halloween.

Really loved this animation of an interview with David Lynch about the origin of great ideas.

And my favorite topic, food: I haven't been able to stop devouring Pan con Tomate this week. Hard to imagine anything better than bread, tomato, and olive oil. 

How about you? What has tickled your fancy lately? 

Lovely Links & Happenings

How has the week been treating you, snap peas? I've been basking in the glow of early fall. It's still hot here in North Carolina, but the light has changed and the leaves are juuuust starting to turn. It's absolutely gorgeous. 

In exciting tarot news, I finally got my paws on Ricardo Cavolo's fantastic Tarot del Fuego. I'm so glad I pulled the trigger because this deck is wonderfully vibrant and engaging. And that's not to say the pop art style and multiple colors make it any less insightful. You'll be seeing much more of it on the blog soon...

Here are some other gems that captivated me this week - hope you enjoy and please share your own discoveries below.

Hilary Parry gives tarot readers helpful tips for how to recover from a bad reading. 

How amazing is this moon garland?? I'm swooning.

This wonderful Manifesto at the Midheaven sums up perfectly some of the issues I have with the commondification of mysticism.

Made my first panzanella - it was delicious and easy-peasy. Definitely recommended for a low key dinner party aka the best kind of dinner party.

DIscovered a blog about "strange and lovely" words called Other-Wordly.  It's very moving to see feelings expressed in other languages - check it out for a dose of beauty.

Read a fascinting article about the Miss America pageant. Entertaining, surreal, and more than a little disturbing - makes me think about the pressure for women to smile almost constantly,.

Watched Don't Breathe (mostly through my fingers, I have to admit!) Very suspenseful, though as a lifelong horror fan, I'd say it's more of a thriller. More spookiness please!

And finally, someone created a Mario spinoff called Ennuigi where Luigi chainsmokes and contemplates his past. An accurate portrayal of how I feel when I'm grumpy. It's delightful!

Is Tarot Right for Me?

Sometimes it takes a while to start something new.

You’ve been intrigued by tarot for a bit, maybe even walked into a metaphysical shop to look at the decks. If you’re like me, you probably got overwhelmed fast. Let’s see what we have here… Medieval Tarot, Cat Tea Party Tarot, Steampunk World of Warcraft Wolf Tarot???

Yes, it’s a lot to process! And you might start wondering if tarot is a good fit for you after all.

As an unabashed tarot nerd, I have good news for you. If you’re interested in tarot, get a deck and start exploring now.

You don’t need a long lineage of fortunetellers in your family, an “angels descending from the clouds” spiritual awakening, and you certainly don’t need to pass a test.

Your curiosity is pointing you in a very exciting direction. Why not follow it and see where it leads?

It doesn’t matter what your spiritual background is, or if you’re even planning to use tarot as a spiritual tool at all. I believe that tarot benefits people of all stripes (or spots) and is very adaptable. So if you plan to use tarot for divination or you just want to use the images to jog your creativity, please go out and snag a deck.

The world could use your unique take on the tarot, so don't hold yourself back.