I’m looking for tarot decks with really beautiful aesthetics. Call me Tarot vain, but I think the looks of the card matters. Not just so I can have a nice deck in the collection, but I resonate with pretty decks and that comes across in my readings.
My wallet’s already crying from looking at some of the luxury editions out there. I’ve been browsing Etsy and noticed some indie creators have decks with metallic accents and interesting color palettes that cost less than the big names. The quality seems to vary though. I’m drawn to decks that look artistic but still have readable symbolism. Sometimes the abstract ones look gorgeous but I can’t actually use them for readings.
I especially love gold foiling and pastel colors. Also into black cards or bright colored decks. The Moonchild deck is probably the most beautiful I’ve seen, but the price tag hurts. Planning to get it eventually, just hoping to find something I like almost as much for now. Right now I just have the Rider Waite that I’ve used for years. Would love to hear what aesthetically pleasing decks you all recommend?
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Since we’re talking about deck styles that upgrade readings, I’ve been really interested in holographic and color-shifting decks lately. My three picks:
The way the cards change as you move them adds a bit of magic to interpretations. This video shared some tips on finding affordable indie holographic decks that could help with budget concerns.
The Marigold Tarot is one of my favorites. The gold and black color scheme looks great, especially if you’re into skeletal artwork. The contrast between the gold details and dark backgrounds really stands out when you’re doing readings. It gives the deck a nice atmosphere.
Another easy suggestion is the Deviant Moon deck. One of the best aesthetic decks out there.
The Cosmic Cycles deck has this nice galaxy theme with silver ink that catches light. The cards are sturdy enough for regular use, and they photograph well, too. The guidebook includes moon phase correspondences, which is a nice touch for readings.
If you wanted something more popular, I’d say modern witch Tarot is the best looking.
I’ve been using the Tarot of the Divine for a few months now and really like it. The artwork is beautiful and each card has so much detail to explore. It’s become one of my go-to decks for readings. Something about the illustrations just clicks with me.
The Fountain Tarot has a beautiful quality that reminds me of a foggy beach at dawn.
The artwork feels like you’re reading through a soft morning mist, creating a dreamy atmosphere for intuitive work. I hope your deck collection grows with pieces that really speak to you!
Have you checked out botanical-themed decks? The Wild Unknown has this nature imagery or there’s a whole lot of fairy tarot decks.
There are some on the popular Tarot list that have some unique styles.
Look, we all want that gorgeous deck that makes everyone jealous at the coffee shop. Yeah, I’m calling myself out here. But those pretty artistic decks we buy? They can be awful for beginners still googling ‘what does the Three of Cups mean again?’
The El Goliath Tarot is beautiful, but good luck finding the actual symbols under all that artwork when you’re trying to figure out if that’s a pentacle or just a fancy dinner plate.
I’ve been checking out local fairs for tarot decks lately and found some really cool stuff you won’t see online. These smaller venues have decks that haven’t hit the mainstream market yet.
Found this Ethereal Visions Illuminated Tarot at a small local fair last month. The creator was actually there, which was pretty neat. She explained why she added gold foil to certain cards and the meaning behind her design choices.
You get that personal connection when you buy directly from the artist that you just don’t get when ordering online.
Found these Animal Crossing tarot cards on Ugoly recently. Don’t shoot me, but I like the pretty pink Tarot deck aesthetic too. They’re pretty cool if you’re into both gaming and tarot stuff.
Never thought Animal Crossing and tarot would work together, but the cards keep all the symbolism while looking cute. They’re made by independent artists too, so you’re supporting someone’s creative work.
My Wiccan friend uses hers for daily pulls. She says the playful vibe works well for lighter readings when she doesn’t want to use traditional decks.
I’ve been really into indie artist decks lately. The thick card stock and gilded edges just feel nice to shuffle. Gold foiling is what I’m drawn to right now.
The way light hits those details during readings adds something extra to the experience. Some of these decks come with guidebooks that match the card design perfectly. Nice when everything feels cohesive like that.
I get the spiritual appeal of culturally-adapted tarot decks, but I’m not sold on Japanese minimalist designs. They look nice, sure, but don’t they strip away too much? Traditional tarot is packed with symbolism for a reason, all those details help with readings.
When everything’s pared down to almost nothing, how do you connect with the deeper meanings? The sparse look might be aesthetically pleasing, but it could leave you struggling to interpret the cards. And the Tarot of the Thousand and One Nights, I have mixed feelings about that one, too.
Layering Middle Eastern stories onto Western tarot symbolism seems like it could get confusing. Are we reading tarot or are we reading folklore? The artwork might be gorgeous, but does it help or hinder the actual reading process?
Maybe simpler, more universal imagery works better for intuitive connections. Not saying these decks are bad, but all the cultural additions might be making things more complicated than they need to be.
Mystic Mondays is pretty affordable and has a colorful gradient style. Good for Instagram readings.
Thoth is a pretty cool style and one of the more recognizable decks, next to the original RWS.
The Spacious Tarot is another option, watercolor style, more minimal. I use it for shadow work sometimes. And if you want pastels, look at the Dreaming Way deck. The art has this soft Korean influence.
Have you checked out the Weaver Tarot, Journeyer deck?
The mix of blues and purples with touches of gold might catch your interest. You could start by looking up some card images online. Sometimes browsing through a deck’s artwork can help you decide if it feels right for your practice.
I’ve been doing readings at the farmer’s market lately and the Golden Art Nouveau deck always gets attention. People stop to look at it before I even start shuffling.
Last weekend at the coffee shop where I read, one of my regulars showed me her new tattoo sleeve. She based it on artwork from the Thoth deck. The Thoth can be pretty intense with all its symbolism. Some people find it overwhelming. Both decks have their own style that works without needing to be pastel or minimalist.
If you want to go completely in the other direction, then the crystal unicorn Tarot has a look of its own.
When I moved beyond my trusty Rider Waite deck, I found some vintage-inspired options that really spoke to me.
Decks like the Mucha Tarot and Pagan Otherworlds blend art history with intuitive reading beautifully. They have clear symbolism which makes them both lovely to look at and useful. The Lost Tarot also caught my attention with its old-world feel, adding a sense of depth to readings.
If you’re into gold foiling, the Golden Tarot could be a more affordable choice compared to something like Moonchild. These decks, grounded in history, strike a nice balance between being beautiful art and functional tools for tarot reading.
creating your own tarot deck can be pretty intimidating at first. but you get to design something that actually feels like you.