Which Tarot Deck Do I Use?
Tarot is a language, and when you are truly reading the Tarot, which means you yourself are doing the interpretation and not gleaning from books or other resources, you are using the same parts of the brain that are used for language skills and interpretation.
I think it’s really a good idea to learn with the Rider Waite, and even use it alongside a deck you may have fallen in love with. When we learn a new language, we often hear our Mother Language before interpreting. So, if I am learning French, and want to ask your name, I will hear, “What is your name?” in my mind in English first, and then translate it.
The same is true of Tarot. Whichever deck you learn first becomes your Mother Language for Tarot. When you know that deck well, you will see it first when looking at other cards. This becomes important as the newer created decks sometimes lack the symbolism and richness of more scholarly decks. Art aside, the Rider Waite deck is scholarly and rich with symbolism. (Note: Smith Waite is becoming preferred name of the deck as Smith was the Artist.)
If you are new to Tarot, learning with the Smith Waite alongside any other deck is also a great way to go so that you have the richness of any deck you choose.
A good way to check into decks you like is to think about what interests you most. Many are based on the Rider Waite system, some are better than others for their attention to symbology. Some imagery is very soulful and elicit much emotion, and that can make it a good deck. I love a very Pagan deck called “Robin Wood” and used it for my readings for many years. There are decks that honor plants, cats, religions, and cultures.
If you begin and learn with a scholarly deck, and then look at the artful or fanciful decks, you will see in your mind’s eye the important symbology that may be missing. It will enrich your readings and understanding.
So! Choose a deck that speaks to you, and learn the Mother Language.
