Of course, the choice of Tarot deck is individual, and a lot depends on your tastes. However, if you seriously intend to learn the art of prediction or study the Tarot as an encyclopedia of occult symbolism, you should opt for one or more serious decks that carry a whole history of the development of philosophical thought. How often is it difficult for a novice tarot reader or adept of magical science to understand which deck is worth his time and money, and which is not.

After all, the choice is huge, and the resources are not unlimited. Moreover, I would like to begin to understand the Tarot, if not immediately, then after several months of study. There are decks with which this is simply impossible. But first, I'll tell you what's important in decks. Of course, I will not be able to describe all the existing versions of the Tarot in this article, but after reading you should have a fairly complete idea of ​​what they are like.

Briefly about the method

Each of the major arcana of the Tarot is an archetype, a collective image of a force or energy that causes certain changes in your life. Images of earthly and divine parents, the shadow side of personality, inspiring or terrifying images of sexual partners, as well as various signs and symbols of good and bad luck, movement and stagnation, separation and unification - all this relates to the depths of our psyche. Ideally, a Tarot layout is a photograph of a person, his personal history, mentality and an indication of his prospects in this regard. After all, there is no future whose roots are not in the past. And there is no situation that is not indicated in one way or another by some signs, be it in a dream, a vision or an answer from an oracle.

The minor arcana of the Tarot can be compared to the Book of Changes, the I-Ching. They contain signs of a particular situation. Situations follow one another, but if you follow them long enough, you will notice the repetition of situations. The minor arcana are almost an exact copy of a deck of playing cards, with the help of which you can also predict fate, but this prediction will be quite flat: there will be not enough depth and an answer to the question of which archetype dominates the situation.

Each Tarot deck also contains 16 face cards representing people. The meaning of these cards is considered the most complex. On the one hand, they depict a person who is involved in the situation. On the other hand, they can indicate the character traits of the person being told fortunes. These qualities can help or hinder him on his path, depending on the color of the minor arcana.

Truly valuable Tarot decks are distinguished by the fact that they have a strictly ordered system of interpretation. Interpretations are not taken out of thin air and the imagination of the author, but are derived from a finite number of symbols and signs.

In the “correct” decks, all these signs are marked on the cards and help at one time or another during practice to see one of the necessary symbols and apply them in interpretation. The word “correct” is in quotation marks because, on the one hand, almost every magical or tarological school considers only its interpretation to be correct, and on the other hand, each drawn deck has the right to exist within its own boundaries - either for meditation or for personal understanding its author.

In the “correct” decks, each card corresponds to one of the five elements (elements), one of the seven planets and/or a zodiac sign. Each major arcana carries the same information as a deity, which can be found, if desired, in each of the pagan pantheons of antiquity and even in monotheistic religions in the form of the names of god, angels and saints. Therefore, the major arcana have only one meaning: in front of us is either a planet, an element, or a zodiac sign. All these keys are contained in the Rose Cross of the Rosicrucians.

And here is an image of the Rosy Cross, containing all the keys to the Tarot and the occult tradition. On the cross, the central rose consists of petals with one of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The Kabbalah is another way of interpreting the Tarot, and knowledge of it is contained in the Sephiroth of the Tree of Life.

Each face card (or court card, as they are also called) is a combination of two elements - for example, fire and air, water and earth. In the best decks, the minor arcana correspond to the planets in the zodiac sign and element.

Tarot card images must take into account correspondences with the elements and planets. They must be of the appropriate color, and their heroes must bear symbols that correspond to the gods of one or more pantheons.

Best decks

Aleister Crowley or Rider-Waite?

Aleister Crowley's Thoth Tarot deck is a treasure trove of symbols. Compared to other decks, there is much more detail in its major arcana. Its study may take many years, but in the art of prediction you will advance further than those who use simpler decks. You will not depend solely on intuition or the grace of the gods to show you the right cards. You will know their exact decoding. But the deck is certainly not suitable for those who do not want to delve deeply into the nature of the Tarot. This is not a toy or entertainment. The deck holds secret keys to human abilities, and if you are looking for Tarot to just want to tell your fortune at Christmas time, do not take it.

The Rider-Waite deck is also a useful tool for fortune telling and the study of symbolism, and many tarot readers choose it exclusively. In any case, in the depiction of the major arcana, every detail of the image of the central figure carries a symbolic meaning, although there are many orders of magnitude fewer such details than in Crowley.

It is also difficult to trace the system in the interpretation of the minor arcana. For Waite, it is based on a system of fortune telling using ordinary playing cards, while Crowley correlates his minor arcana with the planets in the zodiac sign, calculates the cabalistic meaning, and gives the corresponding hexagrams from the I Ching and geomantic signs. Although the system seems complex at first glance, in the end it is more orderly and logical.

Tarot of Papus and Oswald Wirth

These decks have a different, but rather logical system of correspondences from the previous two decks and, in general, displays important aspects of the archetypes that are embedded in the idea of ​​each of the arcana. They contain quite a lot of symbolism, details, symbols that will help to understand them not flatly and specifically, but in a general way, in order to grasp the meaning for a person of the idea that stands behind them. Several times I have heard the opinion that the predictive power of these decks is quite high. Difficulties can arise only when correlating these cards with Hebrew letters. Also, the numbering of the arcana raises some doubts, but, in theory, this should not greatly affect the predictions.

Decks that are interesting at a certain stage of learning

Marseille Tarot

Drawn quite simply and flatly (there is clearly a lack of color palette), the deck is useful for studying the Tarot as a worldview system for humanity. Without the Tarot of Marseilles, it will be difficult to understand the history of the deck, which slowly but surely changed, without the Tarot of Marseilles, which is an intermediate link between the oldest decks from the time of Visconti and the more modern Papus and Waite ones. However, it is unlikely that it will be possible to fully understand the system of Tarot symbolism and learn the art of prediction from scratch using only this deck.

Tarot of the Order of the Golden Dawn

Suitable for those who are determined to study Jewish-Egyptian magic and Kabbalah. The deck is a reflection of the worldview described in the book by Israel Regardie, “The Complete System of the Order of the Golden Dawn.” It was from this deck that Aleister Crowley drew inspiration when creating his own, although the decks are not very similar to each other. More suitable for the study of symbolism than for prediction. The problem with this deck is that there is little literature on its interpretation, so the decoding of some symbols remains a matter of guesswork.

Tarot Visconti-Sforza

One of the oldest decks that have come down to us. They say that it was assembled from several Milanese decks that were in circulation during the reign of King Visconti. He himself ordered one of them from the artist. The deck contains some important keys that help you better understand the meanings of each of the major arcana.

Tarot Liber T “Stars of Eternity”

Those who like Aleister Crowley's Tarot of Thoth will be interested in studying this deck. The major Arcana are depicted here in less detail, but the minor ones are beautiful because they tell a certain myth that can be useful for their understanding. It is difficult to use this deck for fortune telling, because the interpretation of the minor arcana is not always limited to the myth they tell, but it is very advisable to know it and keep it in mind when using the Thoth Tarot.

Tarot of the Lon by Milo Duquette

This is a deck not for fortune telling, but for magical rituals. In addition to some additions to the symbolism of each arcana, this deck is especially necessary for those who practice Enochian magic, as well as other evocations of spirits, as it contains a system for combining Enochian tablets and spirit sigils with Tarot cards.

Russian Tarot, Egyptian Tarot, Italian Tarot

We see in these decks a pursuit of stylization, which harms the information content of each of the arcana, but this group of decks deserves a few minutes of our attention (provided that the symbolism of the Tarot is already well known to us).

Indeed, the image of Ivanushka the Fool from the Russian Tarot is close in meaning to the Jester from the Thoth Tarot, but this is only one aspect of the idea contained in the lasso. If we are talking about the Egyptian Tarot, then Thoth really perfectly corresponds to the idea of ​​the Magician card, but, firstly, other meanings and ideas that it contains are lost (and which are well revealed if we study several serious decks at the same time), and secondly secondly, the opportunity to combine symbols inherent in the gods of different pantheons is lost.

The most useless decks

"Frivolous" decks

Tarot of gnomes, angels, witches, vampires, etc. In such decks, in pursuit of style, the very versatility of the symbols is lost. Each of the arcana may have only one coincidence with more serious analogues, or may not have it at all. For example, an angel on a card from the Guardian Angels Temperance deck can pour white liquid from one vessel to another, and on the Justice card there will be scales, as in serious decks. But all other matches will be lost.

The fact is that these decks cannot be true: in the Tarot there are simultaneously gnomes, witches, and angels - but they are not the main characters, but only accompany secret and multifaceted symbols, which are best depicted in the form of human figures ( as in Waite and Visconti) or in the form of impersonal deities (as in Crowley). The main thing in the Tarot is an archetype that can be described with the help of symbols, and no dwarves themselves are able to do this without leaving a trace of their “dwarven” energy, if such is even possible.

Standing a little apart are such decks as Madame Lenormand cards, Osho Zen Tarot, Tarot Manara, as well as many designer decks. The fact is that at one of the degrees of initiation, each magician must draw his own deck. There are too many designer decks to list here. Lenormand cards and most of the author's decks are more like solitaire for fortune-telling, rather than a serious generally accepted (at least within one of the schools) system of correspondences. In principle, you can tell fortunes using coffee grounds, animal entrails, and Lenormand cards. But fortune telling on the Osho Zen Tarot is hardly possible. These are more of a meditation card. The only thing we don’t know is why such cards are called Tarot?

Tarot of Hieronymus Bosch, Sandro Botticelli, etc.

These decks don't work at all. They are even worse than the previous type, because modern compilers simply took them out of the paintings of various characters and placed them on the lassos. For example, the real Pope from Botticelli’s painting “The Temptation of Christ” migrated to the Hierophant (High Priest, Pope) map. Venus from the painting “Birth of Venus” - on the Empress card. But Tarot is different in that color matches and various details are important. If Bosch or Botticelli painted their popes and empresses without wanting to compare them with certain arcana (often their goal was to ridicule a certain person in power or talk about an impending coup), then the Tarot from such pictures simply will not work. After all, in the Tarot there are not specific popes and empresses - they are collective images that carry such depth that can never be represented by a specific person. Well, in general, artists who draw Tarot at least think about the Tarot and the symbolic figures that need to be depicted, whereas in the case of artists’ Tarot, ready-made figures are pulled onto the lasso (read - pulled by the ears).

The exception is Giger's Tarot, who, in any case, participated in the creation of the deck. But this deck is too specific and is hardly suitable for everyday use.

Sequence of studying maps

First, I recommend familiarizing yourself with the Rider-Waite Tarot. It is the most popular, and you have probably already seen it. Then it makes sense to look at the Visconti-Sforza Tarot to see that the Tarot has its own unique history. Then you should purchase Aleister Crowley's Tarot of Thoth and books on its interpretation and delve into the history of occult symbolism. After a fairly intense strain of your brain and putting the symbolism of the Tarot into a certain system, you can quickly study all the other Tarot decks (except for the most useless ones).

After some time, you will see for yourself how well you can distinguish serious decks from frivolous ones, useful from useless ones, and also decide which system of correspondence and school of interpretation is closer to you.

One of the most popular methods of fortune telling in the modern world is fortune telling using Tarot cards. Disputes still continue about when and where this method of fortune telling originated. However, we can absolutely say that many predictors and people gifted with the gift of clairvoyance use Tarot - decks of cards that help determine the future and see the past. The magical and occult drawings depicted on the cards have a very complex interpretation; the ability to read Tarot cards is considered secret knowledge, which is not open to every person.

Tarot is a deck of cards consisting of 22 major cards and 56 minor cards. In this case, the cards of the lower order are divided into 4 suits. The face cards are very similar to the regular ones in their order: kings, queens, knights, but there are also pages.

Tarot is a deck of cards, which are also divided according to the style of images depending on their use. Let's look at the most famous Tarot.

The most popular Tarot cards are Lenormand decks, named after the famous fortune teller. At one time, she clearly saw the death of Pushkin, the death of Marat and Robespierre, the marriage of Josephine and Napoleon. She had her own salon in Paris, where visitors constantly visited with a desire to know their future. The Lenormand Tarot is one of the most popular decks of cards, as it has enormous power to predict the future, and thanks to the description of Madame Lenormand herself, her Tarot is a deck of cards that is very easy to read.

No less popular are Tarot - decks of Rider-Waite cards. These maps were made in the early twentieth century. The ideologist of the creation was the esotericist Waite; he came up with images for cards of the lower order, which greatly facilitated the interpretation of predictions on Tarot cards. Artist Pamella Colman Smith transferred these images, invented by Waite, onto cards. Instead of schematic patterns and drawings, the figures acquired faces, and smaller details became noticeable.

In the modern world, there are a huge number of Tarot cards, which are based on all of the above decks. Now you can find Tarot of black and white magic, gnomes, Celts, yogis, vampires and others. They all repeat the general structure of Tarot cards, have the same numbering, and are divided into major and minor arcana. The only differences are the images and energy coloring of the Tarot cards.

In order to choose a suitable deck, you need to know the description of tarot cards and their features. There are many schools that are difficult for a beginner to understand. Let's talk about the advantages and disadvantages of each.

The classic Tarot deck includes several suits:

• Major Arcana
• Minor Arcana: Wands, Cups, Pentacles, Swords

But decks are different, and beginners are often concerned about the question of which cards to choose. There are many of them - from traditional to non-standard versions.

1. Papus Tarot School
2. Waite School
3. School of Marseille Tarot
4. Crowley School

Each has its own characteristics, similarities and differences.

Papus Tarot School

Features of this deck and its distinctive features:

• The major arcan, Justice, is number eight.
• Major Arcana Strength is number eleven
• The major arcana Jester is an analogue of the letter Shin, which is shaped like a fork. Located at number zero or twenty-one
• Arcanum Magus is associated with the first letter of the Kabbalistic alphabet Aleph
• Arcanum Magus - analogue of the twenty-second letter of the Kabbalistic alphabet Tav
• The Lover's lasso depicts a young man flanked by two women, between whom he chooses his betrothed

There are no special rules for fortune telling on the Papus deck - no special rituals are required, it does not matter which hand you take the cards with. It also doesn’t matter the time or number of questions.

The founder of the school believed that in the process of fortune telling, a person connects to the magical egregor of the goddess Isis, who patronizes the Tarot.

Followers of this school use the following decks for fortune telling: Egyptian Tarot, Tarot of the Age of Aquarius, Tarot Labyrinth.

Waite Tarot School

The cards of this school have the following features and differences from traditional decks:

• The Arcana of Strength corresponds to number eight
• Arcana of Justice - 11
• Arcana of the Fool - 0 or the letter Aleph
• Arcana Magician - letter Bets
• Arcana World - number 22 and letter Tav
• The Lover's lasso depicts a couple - a man and a woman, either walking in heaven or at their own wedding

It is the Waite school that is most widespread in the modern world. The meanings of the arcana necessarily have an astrological basis.

Crowley Tarot School

This is a very specific deck called the Thoth Tarot. It has a unique image style and a unique appearance that is easy to distinguish from classic decks.

Peculiarities:

• The Arcana of the Magician has three illustrations - Greek, Indian, Egyptian. The first one is the most common
• The founder of the school recommended: turn to cards only on important issues that concern you most
• Also, the author of the system believed that the cards help the fortuneteller to know himself, achieve trance and enter a state of meditation

Important: when using this deck, cards must be removed exclusively with your left hand.

Marseille school

The cards of this school are also famous for their specific design, which cannot be confused with other decks.

Peculiarities:

• There are few color variations: in the illustrations you can only find beige, yellow, blue and red colors
• The outlines of the figures are quite rough and are not particularly realistic
• Popular decks of this school: Tarot of Marseilles, Tarot of the Angles, Tree of Life

Followers of this school also created unique artistic decks, which are distinguished by their non-standard appearance.

How to choose a deck for fortune telling

To get the right answers to the questions that concern you, you need to accurately select the right deck. Depending on the Tarot school, not only the appearance of the arcana will differ, but also the methods of fortune telling.

How to choose the right fortune telling deck:

1. Listen to your own feelings. “Your” deck will seem to call you. Hold the cards in your hands and feel if there is any discomfort. If you have feelings of anxiety, restlessness, or don’t like the cards in appearance, fortune telling is unlikely to be successful
2. If you have just begun to explore the magical world of Tarot magic, opt for decks with neutral or light energy. As a rule, these are bright cards painted in light colors
3. Dark shades are more suitable for experienced magicians and are completely unsuitable for magical love and financial situations
4. Ignore the tempting names and flashy packaging. Look specifically at the illustrations of the arcana. You should like them and be tactilely pleasant
5. It is not advisable to buy cards that are laminated and too smooth to the touch - they have practically zero energy. The ideal option is rough and thick cardboard
6. Examine the cards carefully - the images should be clear and well drawn
7. Hold the cards in your hands - you should feel as comfortable as possible. Don't buy decks that are too small or too big

Watch an overview video about choosing Tarot cards and the features of different decks:

The following decks are perfect for a complete beginner: Rider-Waite Tarot, Age of Aquarius Tarot, Universal Key Tarot. For health layouts - the Paracelsus Tarot, for love layouts - the Manaro Tarot.

The deeper you delve into the magical world of Tarot, the more decks you will buy over time. Professionals, as a rule, have several sets of cards with different directions. But it is quite possible that the first cards you buy will stay with you forever.

Tell your fortune for today using the “Card of the Day” Tarot layout!

For correct fortune telling: focus on the subconscious and don’t think about anything for at least 1-2 minutes.

When you are ready, draw a card:

SHARE

The question “Please advise which deck to buy?” sounds as often as asking for advice on what to read. We'll talk about what to read next time. And today we will discuss which Tarot decks a tarot reader can and should have.

The principles for dividing decks are very diverse. Decks can be considered as working, collectible, themed, and so on ad infinitum. Attempts to somehow classify the decks have been made repeatedly, but none of them have been successful.

Moreover, almost every month the world becomes richer with several new decks. Therefore, the classification I propose will initially be considered as a classification with fuzzy characteristics.

How many working decks are needed for fortune telling?

Every tarot reader with experience develops over time his own idea of ​​what tarot decks he should have and which ones he would like to have.

I will talk about my and only my ideas.

Let's start with the fact that I would like to have every conceivable and inconceivable deck. It's easy to calculate. The average price of a deck is thirty dollars. There are about two thousand decks available. Sixty thousand dollars and you have a wonderful collection of decks.

If we talk about working decks, that is, about the required minimum of decks for constant daily practice, then 1 (one) Tarot deck is enough for me. This is the Magical Tarot by Frederic Lionell. Beautiful, wonderful, my favorite deck.

Just in case, I always have a second deck in my deck bag - the classic RU. The simplest, most boring, most standard Waite.

Who is telling fortunes: a tarot reader or a deck?

I know that the idea is very popular among tarot readers that one deck better shows one area of ​​life, and another deck better shows another. There was a time when I thought the same thing myself. I carried seven decks with me. Today I don't see any need for this.

This is actually a very interesting problem. Who is telling fortunes - a tarot reader or a deck? In the Metaphorical Cards, as well as in what we might call the American school of divination, the interpretation of the drawings largely depends on the querent.

With this approach, drawings made in different styles and having different subjects really matter. In the fortune telling technique that I use, the querent does not take part in the interpretation of the cards and their decoding. And I work not so much with the visual image of the map, but with its semantic field. Therefore, different designs in different decks lose their significance for me.

Two ways to miniaturize decks

I would also add some kind of mini deck as a working tarot deck. There are two ways to miniaturize decks. First, downsizing. And in this regard, it seems to me that the size 75*45 mm is close to ideal.

I've seen smaller and larger decks in the mini category. And I found them inconvenient to work with. I regret that Crowley's deck was not published in this scale. And I’m even thinking about ordering such a deck from a printing house myself. It will be an excellent addition to Waite and the Tarot of Marseilles.

In addition to reducing the size, we can reduce the number of cards in the deck, limiting ourselves to only the Major Arcana. Just the Tarot of Frederic Lionell - the elder arcanic.

Is it possible to guess everyday questions using the Major Arcana?

I have come across many statements about the fact that in the Major Arcana you cannot guess about everyday issues, that the appearance of the Major Arcana in the layout is a sign of special importance, which should be paid the closest attention. I don't have that feeling.

Moreover, with my students I conducted a series of experiments that confirmed that the Major Arcana have many more entry points, and they connect more easily than the Minor Arcana. Simply put, you can take out the three Major Arcana and get a complete description of the situation, see the whole picture. Or you can take out ten Younger ones and drown in unnecessary details, unable to create a holistic image of the event.

Mandatory deck set

Classic is always in fashion. I can't say that this should be the rule for all tarot readers. But for myself, I consider it obligatory to have a set of decks that I consider classic. I will be happy to list them.

Let's start with the Grand Ettail Tarot. There are several versions of this deck. For aesthetic reasons, I chose this one.

Marseille Tarot. From the huge variety of options for the Tarot of Marseilles, I chose the version proposed by Paul Marteau. Although today I feel the need to have a few more decks, not for fortune telling, but for educational and methodological purposes. For example, Tarot “1 JJ Swiss Tarot”, where the Pope and Priestess are replaced by Jupiter and Juno.

Egyptian Tarot, which would be more correctly called “Pseudo-Egyptian Tarot”. The Egyptian branch of the Tarot is purely optional for me. But, as they say, so be it.

Decks, one way or another, related to the Golden Dawn. Undoubtedly, this is Waite and Crowley. And decks that claim to be the official Golden Dawn deck. I will not name everything, I will mention only two of them: Tarot of the Golden Dawn by Robert Wang and Hermetic Tarot by Godfrey Dawson. I should note that Dawson's deck is much nicer and more informative than Wang's.

Theoretically, two more decks should have been classified as classic decks: the Tarot of Papus and the Tarot of GOM. But the designs of these decks did not seem attractive enough to me for me to want to have cards in addition to the text itself.

I won't be looking at collectible decks. I also include literally collectible decks as collectible decks, for example, the Dali Tarot, covered in gold. And all sorts of decks, purchased for the occasion, given as gifts, and otherwise found their way onto the shelves.

Thematic Tarot Decks

Let's say a few words about theme decks. I see the creation of theme decks as a very good exercise for developing tarot thinking or for creating educational materials on a specific topic.

For example, for me, a good help in studying the topic “Tarot and Kabbalah” was the Spanish Kabbalistic Tarot deck, which I bought many years ago literally by chance. I was surprised to learn that today this deck sells for two hundred to two hundred and fifty dollars, and it simply cannot be found.

You can come up with an endless number of themes for creating such decks. These are experiments in the form of a Tarot deck. For example, the round Tarot. And Transparent Tarot by Emily Carding. And a very interesting deck of the shadow sides of the “Deviant Moon” personality. And the even darker deck of Giger and Akron “Baphomet Tarot”. And numerous attempts to create an erotic Tarot deck. And it's not just Manara.

I would like to create some of my own theme decks. Not as a fortune telling deck, but as illustrations for my courses. And this can be done at a very good professional quality level. For example, this is how the synchrony between me and Evgeny Vinitsky manifested itself.

At the moment when I was working on the “Tarot and Business” course, he was making a wonderful, wonderful “Tarot of Money” deck. And they complement each other perfectly. I would like to do something similar for three more courses: health, relationships and time.

In addition, I really like to give my students the following exercise: What would this card look like in a fire element deck? What about water? What about the wind in the deck? Such exercises greatly expand your consciousness and understanding of cards.

What connects the kitchen with Tarot decks?

I’ll end my conversation about decks with a somewhat unexpected example. I like to cook. 90% of what I do in the kitchen I do with the same knife. In relation to Tarot, this is an analogue of the Rider-Waite deck.

There are two highly specialized knives that I only use in certain situations: a cheese knife and a paring knife. I have a “Northern Shadows Tarot” deck that corresponds to them, on which I make annual layouts. And there is no particular reason for this. It just happened that way historically.

My friend, knowing my love for kitchen gadgets, gave me a Tescom knife for cutting watermelon. I was very pleased. But I don't understand how to use it. And most importantly - why, if I have an excellent universal knife. And this applies to a good half of the decks that are on my shelves.

There are a lot of card decks for fortune telling in the world, and sometimes it is very difficult for a beginner to choose the first one that will help in further acquaintance with mysterious knowledge.

In this article we will look at the most popular types of Tarot cards, which are most often used and are suitable for both beginners and professionals.

But in order to decide, you need to understand and decide why you need a deck, because some answer only certain questions.

What you need to know about Tarot?

The mention of the first deck of Tarot cards goes back a long way. There are several versions of their origin and each has its supporters. Many researchers are confident that the ancient knowledge of Atlantis is encrypted in the maps. They were collected in the ancient book of Thoth, and after the death of the great civilization they went to the priests of Ancient Egypt.

But the great Egyptian civilization also came to an end. According to legend, the priests who kept the knowledge decided to encrypt it in a playing deck of cards. So they began their journey.

• In Ancient Palestine, Kabbalistic signs were added to them.
• It should be noted that in Europe the first documentary mention of maps dates back to 1329 and is of German origin.
• However, the first deck of 78 cards was created in Italy (the exact date is unknown).

Today, the types of Tarot decks are quite diverse. In addition to classic maps, there are many original ones that reflect the personal experience of the creator and his worldview. Such a deck may even differ in the number and name of cards, as well as their interpretation. It should be noted that the classification of types of Tarot is rather arbitrary, since the same deck can sometimes be classified as different types or not at all.

Classic decks of cards

These include those created by an unknown author in the Middle Ages (mostly), having 78 cards. Over the past time, the decks have not undergone any changes. They cannot be called universal, since some provide answers only to certain questions.

Let's look at the most famous cards.

Marseille Tarot

The issues that the alignment resolves should be deep (personal growth, future, etc.).

Egyptian Tarot

It should be noted right away that for a beginner they are quite complex, but for an experienced tarot reader it will not be difficult to see the exact answer to the question.
If used and understood correctly, they can unlock ancient secrets and knowledge. It is also not recommended for everyday use.

Renaissance Tarot

It is considered somewhat capricious, in the spirit of ancient noble blood. May not answer everyday questions. But its symbolism is quite simple, so interpretation is not difficult.
Beginners can try it.

Tarot of Montaigny

The deck is quite easy to understand; some tarologists classify it more as an oracle and recommend laying it out in addition. It guides and indicates the path of development, but does not give an exact answer on what to do.

Etteila deck

Good cards for a beginner. They are clearly drawn and also have a concise interpretation that can be read either upside down or upside down.

Author's universal decks

This type includes those types of Tarot that can be used for any issue, which is why they are more in demand. Most often, the author who created them is known. Let's look at the most popular decks.

Aleister Crowley Tarot

It is considered a deck with dark energy, since its author was a magician of a dark orientation. Gives direct and tough answers to questions.

It will be difficult for beginners to use it, since an understanding of astrology and numerology is required to fully decipher the answers. This is due to the fact that Crowley saw a direct connection between the Tarot and the Kabbalah.

Golden Dawn Tarot

The maps were drawn by Gregor Mathers and artist Moina Mathers (Samuel's wife). They belonged to the Order of the Golden Dawn, from which many outstanding occultists emerged.
These cards are also not suitable for beginners, as they are quite difficult to interpret. You can use them to solve all sorts of issues.

Raider White deck

Tarot Osho Zen

This deck is quite young. It was created by the enlightened master Osho and the artist Ma Deva Padma. Once you start laying out cards with its help, you can awaken your intuition and sensitivity.
It is impossible to predict in the full sense of this word.

Specialized Decks

Everything is clear here. If you decide to purchase one of these decks, then you need to clearly know why you need it. Some of them will be listed below, as well as the purpose of each.

Tarot of the Dwarves

When making a layout from them, you can ask only everyday questions or those with a material aspect.

Tarot Manara

She helps with very intimate questions, answering them clearly and clearly. It is believed that the deck carries feminine energy, so it is better for men not to use it.
It must be said right away that the image on the cards is quite frank; some tarot readers even consider it vulgar. This should be taken into account when choosing.

Tarot of Lovers

They help answer questions regarding love. Compared to the previous deck, this one is more delicate.

Oracle Decks

This includes those types of Tarot that have significant differences from classical cards. A deck can contain from sixteen to eighty cards, and they also do not have a clear structure, i.e. they do not contain the required number of Major and Minor Arcana, etc.
What is important is that such cards have a completely different interpretation, depending on their name and purpose.
The most famous decks of this type:

• Tarot of Satan;
• Lenormand deck;
• Oracle of Goddesses;
• Maps of the soul, etc.

Now you know the most popular types of Tarot cards. Based on the above, it can be noted that the Rader White Tarot is suitable for beginners as one of the simplest and most understandable. However, the choice should be guided not only by ease of interpretation, but also by personal perception.

If you saw the Tarot and felt that it was yours, feel free to purchase it and start getting acquainted!