You know what I’ve noticed? Even with all these gorgeous indie decks coming out, seems like almost every new deck still references Rider-Waite in some way. The imagery, the meanings, even just the basic structure. that one deck became like the DNA for pretty much everything that came after.
I remember getting the Light Seers Tarot because everyone kept talking about how amazing it was. I really wanted to love it - the contemporary style, the diverse imagery, all of it sounded perfect. And the artwork is genuinely beautiful.
But when I started using it for readings, it just didn’t speak to me. I kept trying to make it work because I thought I might be missing something. Eventually, I realized I was just trying too hard to like something because it was popular.
Now I know it’s okay if a deck doesn’t vibe with you, even if everyone else swears by it. We all connect with different things.
Most popular decks play it safe with the imagery. Makes sense, they want to appeal to everyone. But for shadow work? You might want something darker.
Deviant Moon and Dark Wood Tarot have cult followings because they go there. They show you the uncomfortable stuff you actually need to see for real growth.