Are you looking for big or small cards?

Larger decks can be difficult to shuffle. Some people dislike smaller decks and prefer a larger format, either for aesthetic reasons or other reasons. There are many things I don’t like about card-stock, such as the thickness and texture of cards, lamination and gilded/not Guilded edges.

How about the price?

Some decks are simply too expensive for those with lower incomes. Self-published decks are often more affordable than traditional ones, but they also provide a source of income (hopefully) for the creators. There are many mass-market decks that are cheaper than indie decks. The Rider-Waite-Smith and Shadowscapes are just a few examples. (See below for a list of mainstream decks).

Social media platforms like Instagram can make it seem like we need to have a lot of decks to be able to read the tarot. Many readers only own one deck. There is no limit on how much money you can spend on a hobby. Right now, there is a growing ‘wellness industry’ that will sell you everything you don’t want, with the promise of making you more spiritual or better at reading tarot cards.

I want to emphasize that tarot’s affordability and accessibility is one of its greatest assets. Anyone can learn to read the cards with a simple deck and an internet connection. It doesn’t have to be expensive.

Listen to your gut

There is no right or wrong way to choose a tarot card deck. These questions are meant to help you decide if a deck is right for you. However, it’s just like selecting a partner – only you know deep down if it is. You can let all my questions go and focus on the one thing that matters most: whether or not you feel a positive feeling about the deck. This is the only way to go.

Where can I buy decks?

I suggest buying directly from the artist whenever possible. This will ensure they get the best price and you can get a feel for their work and approach. You can search the artist’s name to see if the deck is available for purchase.

You can also look for independent retailers that care about the products they sell. You probably know that I own a tarot store . However, this is not a promotion for my business. I want to support small, intentional businesses all over the world. It matters where we spend our money!

Concerning mass-market decks, I realize that Amazon is convenient and cheap. But I have to remind them that they are a terrible company. It’s all unacceptable, especially when Jeff Bezos is the richest man on the planet. Please spend the extra money to buy from ethical sellers and creators if it is possible.

The Tarot Garden stocks the majority of mass-market decks that you can find on Amazon. It is an excellent alternative for US-based people.

Hive in the UK is also a great option.