Your First Deck

[Laura Borealis]

My first deck was a RWS, given to me by my then-boyfriend, but my mother made me give it back because tarot = Satan. A few years later, when I was out on my own, I got a Thoth. I don't have that particular Thoth anymore either; it's probably in an evidence locker somewhere.

 

[Eremita90]

My first VERY first deck was an obscure tarot pack that, looking back, must have been a sort of cheap Wirth clone which was so thick and big I couldn't even shuffle it. I hated it. I threw it away after a couple of days (I was 13-14, nobody knew I had an interest in tarot, so I couldn't affort keeping a deck hidden if I didn't even want it).

My first true pack was that of the 22 Major Arcana designed by Wirth along with Oswie's wonderful book. However I soon decided that I wanted a full deck, and got my Soprafino Tarot.

 

[AJ]

My first tarot deck was the Druid Animal Oracle...I didn't know the difference. Well worn in already, I spent the rest of the summer studying the cards I don't remember now which was the first real tarot deck so many have passed through my hands. But I'll always keep that Druid Animal Oracle

 

[Morwenna]

Back in the '80s I was studying Tarot in books because I was interested, but the first deck I actually bought was the Stairs of Gold, because of its beauty, and yes I still have it. But I didn't make too much sense out of reading till I got the Morgan Greer, which became my workhorse for years. Around the same time I got a mini-RWS just because, since many of the books I had focused on it, though I didn't use it much till recent years!

I still get a thrill when I pull out my SoG after not seeing it for ages.

 

[stone_lotus]

My first deck was the Mythic Tarot, which I bought for myself when I was 21 or so from a bookstore on an island I worked at.

I knew nothing about the tarot and didn't understand at first that there were any other decks -- thought that the Mythic Tarot was the ONLY one!! (How did I not Google it....?)

I loved this deck and got to know tarot through the myths in the little purple book it came with. When I found out there were other decks though -- wow! I ran around a massive shop in Tokyo going nuts about all the choice out there and bought a Thoth on impulse cuz I thought the pictures were dangerous and sexy and exciting, only to realize I didn't really connect with it at all. RWS soon came into my life and although there have been other decks since that I know and love, RWS has a special place in my heart.

So does the Mythic Tarot, to be honest, although I don't think I could ever read with it again due to what I view as the slightly off-course nature of some of the illustrations and the way suggested interpretations seem a little forced to make them fit the theme. I gave it to a dear friend though and she's blossoming, blossoming with it. I feel crazy rushes of nostalgia and affection when she reads for me with it.

 

[Le Fanu]

I thought long and hard before buying a deck from my local book store. I was 13 and decks were expensive for me so I had to choose carefully. So one rainy Saturday morning I went in and eventually decided on the Grimaud Grand Etteila. Not a wise choice. I liked the box (no internet then), with the Judgement card. I thought it was magical and mysterious. Loved it. But my god what plodding readings it gave me with the thick LWB and all the elaborate near and far meanings and cumbersome combinations. Even today, I still need the LWB to read with it. Of course I still have it. Rightly treasured. Then I bought the Fournier Spanish Tarot but it was only with my third deck the 1Jj Swiss that I found a deck that felt right. I have all my early decks still. Among my most prized possessions.

 

[MaileSkye]

My first deck was Tarot of the Cat People. My mom decided to get me a deck for my 12th birthday, and let me choose my own. As a cat lover, the choice was easy. All through 7th grade I would give readings during school, in study hall or quiet class periods. Those were the readings that showed me tarot was something special. The cards are very worn, some have candle wax, and I'm pretty sure a few cards escaped along the way. I bought and used other decks throughout high school and college, but it was over ten years later the next time I picked up a deck and immediately went "yes, you are for me."

I did have great luck with Oracle cards however. Like AJ I got the Druid Animal Oracle and used that regularly in high school.

 

[Darkmage]

University Press RWS. My mother gave me that and a copy of Eden Gray's Complete Guide to the Tarot to keep me amused on snow days when power was out. No videogames made DM a very cranky little girl. *sigh*

She got it back in the 60s when it was new and simply never used it. The box is long gone, but the cards remain. I think they're worn, but compared to some worn decks I've seen here and that others use, they're probably still in pretty good shape. They've been retired to their deerskin bag in a cedar chest in my closet. I'm not getting rid of them.

It took me a long time to realize the UP RWS was a clone and not one of the 'official versions.' I like it better than the regulation USG RWS--the backs are a lovely pink with ankhs instead of the fugly tarotee back and the colours in the images are more vivid. But I use the standard USG RWS for readings as it'd be an expensive PITA to replace my UP edition.

As for the book, I found it used in hardback many many years ago and just tossed my old worn paperback copy in the recycling bin. It's still a good basic starter book and it's still in print.

 

[Symphony]

My first deck was the Fey Tarot It took me ages to decide but I eventually went with this one ordered from an online UK holistic shop in 2012 at the age of 24 (almost 25). I love this deck so much I can't see myself ever parting with it. My first ever card drawn from it was the Star card and it's my absolute favourite in the deck. Now when I'm looking at decks I have to check the Star card first before I think of buying it

 

[dlgriffin04]

My first deck was the Tarot Nova bought for me by Amanda04. I saw how awesome her readings were and wanted to learn too, so she took me out to the bookstore and bought me my first deck. Thanks Amanda!!! <3

Several months later I lost the Knight of Pentacles down the crack of my gazebo while practicing some readings outside. So, I went back to the bookstore and chose the Revelations Tarot as the first deck I chose for myself. I thought it would be a great deck to learn with bc it had upright and reversed art, but it definitely wasn't a good deck to learn with. At least not for me.

The Tarot Nova, I still have, but I don't use because it's missing that Knight. The Revelations deck, I also still have, but it's been a long time since I've used it. I no longer use reversals, so I only get it out maybe once a year just to play with it.