My Tarot deck collection is getting a little too big. What started as one deck became a part of my drawer and is now taking up a whole shelf. At this rate, it’s going to become two shelves.
So I have a question that I get asked by visitors all the time. What is your favorite Tarot deck and why?
I know there’s the popular Tarot deck thread and the whole Tarot deck section for that matter, but I’m not asking for a suggestion or even for the decks you think are good. Maybe it’s a deck you don’t think anyone else will like, but it’s your favorite.
What’s the deck you would use if you had to only have one?
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Oh lord… I have such a collection and I feel like my favorite is always changing so you might get a different answer if you ask in a week but, for the moment… I’d probably say Light Seers.
I love everything about it. Rounded edges, slightly dark art style (without overdoing it and making everything negative) and the handwriting font for the names is totally my vibe.
It’s still the traditional RWS cards, so I know there are others like the Ethereal Visions deck that will actually change how you use the cards more than just the artwork but if you’re just asking about my current favorite then I just love the style of this one so much.
My rotation changes a lot, too. Lately, the Woodland Wardens live on my desk as my go-to deck when I’m doing online readings.
This is mostly a personal choice. Not a deck I would especially suggest to beginners or anything (or one I would tel them to avoid either) I just have an affinity toward nature and I think I work well with decks like this.
I also really like Drowning World. It’s a Marseille deck, so it reads differently from RWS. Strong photos, hefty guidebook, actually helpful. If you’re stuck, a Marseilles deck can break the routine. Other regulars: the Lydia Tarot (full name: Madam Lydia Wilhemina’s Tarot of Monsters, the Macabre and Autumn Shadows). Photocollage art, and the grimoire companion is solid.
I also pull the Weimar Tarot-absinthe-green edges and that decadent-era feel I like. For oracle stuff, I reach for the Emilie Autumn Asylum Oracle. There’s a companion novel, and the art lands for me.
When I want a witchy look, I use the Burning Paper Hearts Witch Tarot-black-and-white photography and a few unusual extra cards that add layers. If I had to narrow it to one, I’d say Woodland Wardens but (same as @Sploots) just ask me again in a month.
The Star Tarot by Cathy McClelland would be my pick. I am pretty surprised it doesn’t get talked about more around here. It’s not that uncommon a deck, but not one of the most overused ones either. Right in the sweet spot.
Each card feels meditative, and the imagery works well with chakra stuff. The Empress gets my sacral chakra going with its creative energy. The Hermit cards open up the third eye nicely. McClelland’s colors and symbols create this energy connection, the reds in The Emperor give that root chakra grounding, and The Lovers has strong heart chakra vibes.
It’s become my main deck because readings feel like both divination and energy work at the same time.
The Crowley Thoth is my favorite deck. I think it’s on that popular list but it’s not why I like it.
I started with Rider-Waite-Smith (like most of us probably), but when I tried the Thoth… it just made more sense to me. There’s a lot going on in each card. I’ve been using my RWS deck again lately. Maybe pull a card from a deck you haven’t used in a while?
Sometimes going back to an old deck shows you different things.
I personally do like a deck I enjoy the artwork for because I’m more likely to use it.
Picked up Botanica Obscura from an Etsy seller. What pulls me in is how the artist uses color to give blunt reads. The deep purples and blacks feel like warnings. Traditional decks lean on muted blues for heartbreak; this one goes for crimson bleeding into charcoal.
The Tower card shows violent oranges and yellows against midnight black. Even the softer cards have an edge. The Star mixes toxic greens with hopeful golds.
Healing isn’t always pretty. This deck doesn’t sugarcoat. Some pulls sting. It can be a lot.
My go-to deck is the Gummy Bear Tarot. Don’t judge me, but yes, I found it on the unique tarot deck list.
Other readers definitely give me weird looks when they see it, but that’s kind of why I like it. People call it unprofessional or whatever, but it works great with clients who get nervous around traditional decks.
Hard to be intimidated when Death is just a melting gummy bear. The deck that makes you look ridiculous might be the one that actually clicks with you. If people think I’m weird for using cartoon candy cards, oh well.
I’ve got fifteen regular decks, but I keep going back to the one that looks like it came from a candy store.
If I had to save one deck in a fire, it’d be either my old Rider Waite or my Modern Witch deck.
The RWS has coffee stains and bent corners from years of daily use. It basically reads itself now. The Modern Witch has really interesting color symbolism. The purples and greens work well together once you understand how they’re used. If you can’t decide between traditional and modern, just get both.
I use RWS for shadow work and Modern Witch for manifestation readings. They have different energies.
The Tarot of the Abyss is the one deck I couldn’t give up. I’d probably sell most of my collection before letting go of this one.
The artwork is what got me, it’s dark but readable, if that makes sense. I grab it way more often than my pricier decks. And the cards themselves are built like tanks. I’ve got a Borderless RWS for basic readings and The Dreaming Way for friends who get spooked by darker imagery.
But the Abyss deck works for pretty much everything. It doesn’t cost a fortune, either, which is nice when you’re already buying more shelves.
I love my green Thoth deck - the big one where you can really see all the details in the artwork. The little messages under each card help explain what they mean, which is nice when you’re still learning. The pastel colors are pretty calming, too.
The Thoth deck is known for being direct and unambiguous in its messages (read: harsh).
It’s different from Rider-Waite-Smith, but you can still see some similarities between them. I’ve been surprised by how accurate the readings have been. I don’t have a huge collection - just wanted to get one deck from each main tradition (Thoth, RWS, and Marseille) to understand the different approaches better. If you’re thinking about getting a Thoth deck but worried it’s too complicated, don’t be.
You can work with it without diving deep into all the occult stuff. Just go with what feels right to you.
I’ve got a few favorites like Forest of Enchantment and Pagan Otherworlds, but honestly, if I had to pick just one deck, I’d go with my Centennial RWS.
Digital decks as favorites work for me because I can keep a huge library without taking up space, the shuffle is instant, they don’t get beat up, and backups keep everything safe.
The downsides:
There’s no real tactile feel and long sessions strain my eyes.
Clients sometimes assume I’m checking messages.
Battery or screen glare can break the flow..
My favorite physical deck is Shadowscapes. The tiny watercolor details pull me in and reward slower reads, and the artwork feels alive on the table. It’s fragile, so I don’t bring it outside much. The companion book’s print is small.
My favorite deck is the Shadowscapes Tarot. People keep pushing the classics, but I didn’t connect with tarot until I found this watercolor deck. It fits my quieter, more thoughtful style, so it just clicks.
Modern Witch deck for me. Love how the inclusive imagery connects with different people, and the bold colors work great even in dim lighting at events.
The Osho Zen deck clicks for me because it breaks from the usual structure. No court cards, and the suits don’t line up with RWS the same way. I know some folks prefer strict meanings.
I’m more likely to sit with the picture and link it to what’s happening today, instead of memorizing a fixed take. I use it as a check-in with myself. Some days it lands, some days it doesn’t.
Anyone else notice how your favorite deck changes as you get more into tarot?
When I started, I needed decks with really obvious number stuff, like the three swords literally going through the heart. Made it easy to remember what each card meant. Now I’m using the Tarot Illuminati. The numbers are a little smaller (the Fool has this zero that looks like a sun behind his head, and the Five of Cups has these five petals that match the card’s meaning).
I have to actually know the numbers instead of just counting stuff on the cards. My readings feel smoother when I’m not sitting there counting swords or cups.
If you need to narrow down your collection, try doing a 30-day challenge where you only use one deck. No switching, even for quick daily pulls.
Keep track of how clear and useful each reading is.
Or just accept we all have a problem and continue to collect more decks. Benebell Wen does really detailed deck reviews if you want to research before buying.
If I had to pick just one, it’d be the Crow Tarot.
The art really works with how I read and the imagery is spot on : black_heart: I started with a Universal Waite (still like the coloring better than standard RWS), but the Crow deck is something else. The symbolism is clear and readings just flow better.
MJ Cullinane’s art is beautiful too. Just be careful about knockoffs. It’s better to get it from the artist directly.
