Tarot cards have become increasingly popular, especially user-friendly decks you can use from home. There’s a vast range of decks available online, and finding the one that speaks to you is important. So, we wanted to help on your journey by picking out seven of the best tarot card decks around currently.
Our writer reviewed the tarot decks by a number of means. First, she attended a tarot reading at wellness space She’s Lost Control, which helped her to understand the workings of tarot. Each deck was then analysed by how it looks, the quality of the cards, and the different illustrations, as well as if they came with a guidebook. The tester also tried out a reading alone with each set, to see how they worked for her.
Before we get into which cards to choose, it’s important to understand what tarot cards can actually do for us, and how we should go about finding a set that works for us personally. We spoke with tarot reader and teacher Kasia Gwilliam (who our tester went to see for her own reading) to understand more about the art of tarot.
“Tarot is a beautiful way of exploring where we see ourselves and our situations in the images presented to us,” she explained. “Tarot cards are wonderful tools for self-reflection. The cards (no matter which deck you choose) contain symbols, archetypes, elements, characters and themes that allow us to peek into our inner and outer worlds from the perspective of curious observers.”
“Decks are split into two distinct groups: the Minor and Major Arcana, the former offers us reflections into our day-to-day and changeable situations and the latter the archetypal rites of passage, karmic stages and overarching themes or lessons.”
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When it comes to picking the right deck for you, Gwilliam believes it’s all about intuition. “When seeking out your first tarot cards, it is good to explore and to look at a range of different decks,” she says. “I would recommend getting a deck that has a range of figures, that shows somewhat realistic scenes and ultimately, that speaks to you. You should feel happy, safe and curious about your deck. When you find the right one, you’ll know. It may even feel like they have chosen you.”
You can trust our independent reviews. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world testing and expert advice. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
The best tarot decks for 2021 are:
- Best overall – The original rider waite tarot deck: £10.79, Holisticshop.co.uk
- Best for beginners – Neo tarot: £22, Yogamatters.com
- Best for more experienced readers – The illuminated tarot deck, £16, Freepeople.co.uk
- Best for fuss-free readings – Trinity tarot shop genderless 78 card deck: £23.40, Etsy.com
- Best for something different – Goddess tarot deck, £58, Sheslostcontrol.co.uk
- Best for modern witches – Solar wanderers tarot: £48.16, Littleredtarot.com
- Best for stunning design – Official luna soleil tarot deck and guide: £53.08, Etsy.com