There’s been so much misinformation out there about how to pick a Tarot deck.
No, you don’t need to be gifted a deck for it to be legit.

Choosing the right Tarot deck for you is all about these 3 things:

1. You like the art and the way it feels. It sounds so basic and simple, but this is often overlooked! In order to feel cozy and connected to a divination tool you are going to be using as your best case scenario bestie, you have to enjoy looking at the images. And, it has to feel good in your hands. Easy to shuffle. Something you want to hold. The right size and card stock matters!

2. You get strong and accurate messages from the Tarot deck. At the end of the day, a deck works—it sends you strong and accurate messages that offer up insight, help you make decisions, and makes solid predictions. Or…it doesn’t. Some decks are loud, full of strong and clear messages, and others…not so much. You could have the most beautiful deck in the world that is quieter than a mouse in terms of the messages they bring.
   
   This is in one part about the creation of deck (sometimes, decks created by artists, not Tarot readers, are quieter), and one part your connection to the deck. The only way to really know if a deck will work is to try it enough times to see if its messages are accurate. If you are someone who doesn’t feel like they “get” Tarot, it could be that you haven’t found the right deck for you. Seriously.

3. The Tarot deck only gets more nuanced and versatile over time. Ideally, a deck can deliver accurate messages for you and for others. It can help you with the major quandaries in life, as well as smaller side quests. Just like relationships, there are seasons and reasons for Tarot decks. If you aren’t connecting to a certain deck that used to be your go-to, it might not be you. It might be time to try a different flavor for this era of your life. Remember: your skill as a reader will expand the more decks you can read—it’s like learning different languages. If you are feeling “meh” about your Tarot readings, it could be time to switch up the tool and see if that changes anything.

Below are a few of Sarah’s favorite decks and why!

The Smith Raider Waite

There’s a reason why the Smith Rider Waite is the most popular Tarot deck of all time. This is the deck I learned on, and it’s often the deck I go back to when I need answers and insight to something important or major in my life.

Pros: It’s the deck that most Tarot books are written for, and most modern decks riff off of. It delivers accurate messages.

Cons: It has Christian imagery that turn many off, intense and unsettling imagery (the Devil, the Tower, the Swords…)as well as depictions of people that are not inclusive, at all. (It is for these reasons why I don’t use this with clients.) The edition we chose, the Weiser Tarot, has been updated to depict all skin tones.

SHOP THE WEISER BUNDLE

The Tarot of Pagan Cats

Yes, this is a bit of a wild card (pun intended). I love this deck. It’s filled with cats, for one. Just…cats! Tabbies! Tortoise shells! Russian blues! And any other fantastic feline you can imagine. Because of that, it’s lighter, it’s brighter, and delivers a softer message, while still being on point. Good for kids.

Pros: It is based off the Smith Rider Waite, but takes beautiful liberties—some of the interpretations approach genius levels, tbh.

Cons: Some people might not take it seriously, if you are using it to read for them. The design is a wee bit of another time period, and the word “Pagan,” might throw you off, but I wouldn’t say the deck has a Pagan vibe…unless you count the art on the back of the cards.

SHOP THE MEOW MEOW BUNDLE

The Neo Tarot

The Neo Tarot is one of my favorite decks that came out over the last 5 years. It’s modern, inclusive, and infused with a non-binary perspective throughout. It has delivered accurate messages in a softer, expansive way.

Pros: Beautiful imagery that everyone can relate to. Simple, easy to read images.

Cons: This one was hard, because really there is none I can think of. The only one I could dredge up is that it comes in a large (gorgeous) box, so to travel with it, you’ll need to wrap in a cloth or else it would be bulky…but that’s what everyone does, anyway, so…?

SHOP THE NEO TAROT

Magical Tools for Magical Beings

Many Moons is the go-to guide for all your spiritual needs.
Follow along faithfully, or utilize certain aspects of it, like our Tarot spreads, channeled monthly overviews, and astrological transits. Use it as a grimoire, an intention-setting tool, and to plan your life around the ebbs and flows of the Moon: which also impacts your energy.

SHOP MANY MOONS 2026

More Tarot Resources: Go Deeper

Want to begin with clear and accessible Tarot education, but don’t know where to begin?
We got you!

Our Hermit Year. Our flagship workshop to learn the codes and insights of this year.

The 9 of Wands. Burned out? Reaching your goals, but not sure why you are happy? Tune in.

The 9 of Cups. Did somebody say, how to rebirth and resource yourself? This episode did.

The 9 of Swords. It’s hard shedding identities and releasing toxic cords. This episode can help.

The 9 of Pentacles. How do we create a better life? This episode will help you become clearer.

Want to go deeper into the wonderful world of Tarot?
Our workshop about the Constellation of the 9’s gives you the Tarot education you need to make connections about the cards and see the greater spiritual structure of the Tarot.

Our Archetypes workshop helps you see how your yearly energy can help resource you.

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