Option A: Buy the Rider–Waite deck.
As we learned, this is the most popular tarot deck in the world, and the basis for the majority of other deck designs and card meanings.
PROS
• Affordable and accessible: This deck is very easy to find in stores and online, and it fits most budgets.
• Stylized scenes: Its highly illustrated scenes featuring lots of people and symbols make this deck very beginner-friendly.
• Lots of resources: There is an abundance of information about this deck online and in books.
CONS
• Lack of diversity: There is little to no racial or gender diversity in this deck.
• Personal taste: You may find that you do not connect with the art style.
Option B: Choose your own deck.
It is most common to choose your deck based on personal preference and taste; this can help build your energetic connection to the cards.
PROS
• Personal taste: There is an amazing spectrum of themed decks and themed art styles to choose from these days. You can find anything from TV-show-inspired decks to animal decks and even decks designed specifically for spirit communication!
• Card stock: You can experiment with different card stock thicknesses and finishes, like matte and gloss. Some stores even have dedicated display decks, which are great for testing how the cards shuffle or fit in your hands.
• Diversity: Modern decks have lots of diversity and feature people from all walks of life. It can help build a connection to the deck if you see yourself and your loved ones represented.
• Support artists: You can support local artists by purchasing their self-published decks, which often encourages big publishers to take them on as clients.
CONS
• Difficulty: Sometimes you are drawn to the look of a deck but find it isn’t very beginner-friendly when you use it.
• Price: Indie decks come in a wide range of prices, and sometimes they can be prohibitively expensive.
• Discontinued: Nothing feels worse than falling in love with a deck only to find out when you need to replace it that it has been discontinued or retired.
At the end of the day, both paths are valid. The most important thing is that your deck feels approachable and encourages you to keep learning. Trust your instincts and remember: when it comes to choosing your first tarot deck, the best one is the one you’ll actually use.