9 best tarot card decks for beginners, according to expert readers
Searching for the best tarot cards for beginners? You're not alone. In the unpredictable times we find ourselves in, more of us than ever are turning to the mystical. Whether it’s downloading a horoscope app or donning a crystal necklace, a whole host of elements of the spiritual world have entered the mainstream. Tarot cards are no different, and this ancient practice is seeing a major resurgence in the self-care routines of many.
Need proof? Maisie Williams, Ariana Grande and Taylor Swift are known fans, while Dior based a haute couture collection on the tarot deck. The appetite is certainly there. Elsewhere, the tarot world has been made even more accessible across Instagram, Youtube and TikTok, with tarot card explainers and live readings thriving. On TikTok alone, the hashtag #tarot has had 77 billion views. Whew.
For the unacquainted, a tarot card deck is a deck of 78 cards divided into a Major Arcana (22 cards) and a Minor Arcana (56 cards) – and each represent a different meaning. The cards can be laid out in a number of ways in order to provide wisdom and guidance. While the cards are sometimes used as a predictive tool for the future, most modern day tarot readers use them as prompts to provide insight or illumination. Yes, a reading with a tarot expert can shed light on where you’re at, but learning to work with the tarot cards yourself is an empowering journey to self-awareness.
Looking to get into tarot reading for the first time? You’ve come to the right place. We chatted with Fiongal Green, a tarot reader, psychic artist, spiritual adviser and founder of The Wellness Foundry, about all things tarot for beginners including where tarot originated, the most valuable tarot cards and how to use the deck for love.
Plus, read on for our curated edit of all the different decks to buy for beginners, from classic decks like The Original Rider Waite Tarot Deck and Morgan Green Tarot to trending updates such as OK Tarot: The Simple Deck for Everyone and The Illuminated Tarot. Your first tarot deck is just a scroll away.
SKIP TO: Meet the expert | Which tarot cards are the originals? | What are the best tarot cards for beginners? | How to read tarot cards as a beginner. | What is the most valuable tarot card? | What is the tarot card for love? | Our full edit of the best tarot cards.
In a rush? The best tarot cards in 2024, at a glance:
- The Original: The Original Rider Waite Tarot Deck, £14.99
- The Cult: Aquarian Tarot Deck, £22.25
- The Modern: Modern Witch Tarot Deck, £17.04
- The Beginner-Friendly: The Gentle Thrills Tarot, £16.98
Meet the expert:
- Fiongal Greenlaw-Meek, a tarot reader, psychic artist, spiritual adviser and founder of The Wellness Foundry.
Which tarot cards are original?
This is a question that baffles even the most experienced of tarot card experts. Greenlaw-Meek is keen to point out that the history of the Tarot is as mysterious as the cards themselves. While there is no definitive documentation of its origin there are some theories about where it all began. “Some say tarot originates from Ancient Egypt but there is little to no evidence to support this theory. Some say it originated in the East, filtering into Europe when trade channels began to open up. Or that The Crusaders – fighting the Saracens in the Holy Land – brought it back to Europe in the 12th century,” he explains.
While astrology, astronomy and mathematics did travel this route, Greenlaw-Meek says it appears that Tarot arrived in Europe some centuries later. “Other historians believe Tarot cards originated in northern Italy in the 15th century. Indeed, there is the river Taro in the Province of Parma, which supports this theory,” he adds. 1442 is the earliest documented account of the Tarot and describes the upper classes playing the cards for entertainment while it was European and Asian Gypsies, or nomadic people who are accredited with first understanding the fortune-telling possibilities of the cards.
What are the best tarot cards for beginners?
For those who are new to the world of tarot, Greenlaw-Meek recommends using either the Rider-Waite-Smith deck or the Morgan Greer deck. “These are the most ubiquitous, so finding relevant guidance around the images depicted in these decks is the most accessible,” he points out. “I recommend getting one of these two suggested decks to learn the basics and then buying an ‘eye-candy’ deck – one that is more in line with your aesthetic tastes – later on down the line,” he adds.
What is the best way to use the tarot deck as a beginner?
While it can be tempting to use the booklet that comes with the cards or Google the meaning of a particular card, Greenlaw-Meek suggests trying to tap into your intuitive powers early on. “Constantly checking will only block your intuitive connection with the cards and leave you confused as to what it’s trying to communicate. The Tarot is not meant to be memorised by rote but rather a prompt for your own internal guidance,” he explains.
He suggests three alternative approaches to gain greater understanding of the cards. Either carry each card in turn with you and see how it plays out in your day (see who you meet, or what events happen in your day that reflect the card’s symbolism), place the card under your pillow and record your dreams in the morning or meditate with the card between your hands. “By doing this, your subconscious will present the messages and guidance of the card to you without your rational mind getting in the way,” Greenlaw-Meek clarifies.
What is the most valuable tarot card?
To understand what cards hold what value, it’s important to get clear on what makes up the deck of cards. Greenlaw-Meek explains how the deck is made up of 78 cards which are divided into the Major Arcana (Arcana is the Latin word for secret), of which there are twenty-two and fifty-six Minor Arcana, sometimes known as the pips. “Some people mistake ‘Major’ and ‘Minor’ as indicating that some cards are more important than others but they are all just different aspects and archetypes of life,” he cautions.
“The Major Arcana reveals the spiritual life lessons the Universe is trying to teach us while the Minor Arcana speaks to the who, what, where, and when of everyday life,” he adds. When it comes to the most important cards he highlights the Fool and the World. “The Fool represents the soul and the cards of the Tarot illustrate the people, places and events that happen in The Fool’s life journey. The World shows spiritual enlightenment when The Fool has learned all the lessons it needs to and no longer needs to continue the cycle of death and rebirth,” Greenlaw-Meek describes.
What is the tarot card for love?
Unfortunately and contrary to much popular thought, the tarot cards aren’t a predictive tool. It’s not as simple as looking into a crystal ball. “Do not ask questions like, ‘When will I meet my ideal partner?’ or ‘Will my ex-partner come back to me?’” Greenlaw-Meek says. Instead he suggests rephrasing the inquiry to something like ‘What do I need to know about my love life right now?’ or ‘What blocks do I need to address around my love life?’ “When you ask questions like this you are working with the deck in a way which is much more empowering and insightful,” he says.
In terms of cards that offer good omens in this area, Greenlaw-Meek highlights three: The Two of Cups, the Knight of Cups and The Lovers. “As always, allow your intuition to guide you,” he says. If you are looking for a way to lay out the cards in this scenario, he suggests laying three cards: the first represents you, the second shows what lessons you might need to learn, and the third shows the possible outcome from learning or avoiding these given lessons.
Ahead, the best tarot cards of 2024 to add to your checkout.
One of Green’s top recommendations for beginners, this classic tarot deck is the most popular deck in the world. Among both beginners and experienced readers. First issued in 1910, each striking card still has its original design by Pamela Colman Smith, carried out in accordance with scholarly occultist Arthur Edward Waite instructions. The blueprint for many iterations to come, it’s a true great starting point for complete newbies.
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This stylish, fashion-forward interpretation of traditional Rider-Waite-Smith tarot by acclaimed illustrator Lisa Sterle marries the original symbolism with characters from our modern lives. With its diversity and all-female celebration of womanhood, it’s a truly accessible version of the tarot.
While rooted in traditional tarot archetypes, this deck offers bold and fresh artwork in highly saturated hues perfect for the modern tarot reader. From LA-based artist Isa Beniston, it comes with a beginner-friendly guidebook that includes two words for each card's meaning.
For a fun and playful take on tarot, this music meets mysticism desk is just the ticket. With something for fans of every genre, the 78 cards work as a fully functional tarot deck with each card depicted by cult music icons - think Lorde as the Fool and Prince as the Emperor.
Artist and author Adam JK has remained the tarot deck for a new audience with his very pink offering complete with simple hand-drawn illustrations. Designed to be ultra inclusive, his deck avoids depictions of race, religion, or gender in order to help anyone find themselves represented.
This fresh and contemporary update has a seriously dreamy aesthetic that will make pulling cards a delight. The 79 silver-gilded cards have photographic reproductions of original Jonathan Saiz oil paintings inspired by the classic Rider-Waite Tarot. Designed as a daily tool for reflection and a powerful vehicle for self-discovery, they are guaranteed to awaken fresh viewpoints.
