My first deck was the Mythic Tarot that I bought about 20 years ago. I never used it and never learned Tarot. At the time I had too much going on. Then a couple of years ago, I wanted to give it a go again. Because there is so much to learn, I didn't want to have to learn Greek mythology as well so bought the Universal Waite.
I absolutely love my Universal Waite deck. I bought the pocket size too. I like the softening of the original. I love that A. E. Waite added scenes to the Marseille pip cards. The nostalgia of the deck, and Tarot in general, is so appealing.
I have many decks, yet I still go back to my Universal. I just find it easier to read with. The symbolism and visual cues make it easier to read with just my intuition and not turning to my notes or a book. I also really like Llewellyn's Classic, a RWS clone. Like I said, I have only been reading Tarot for a couple of years, so maybe when I feel more comfortable I will feel like my other decks are just as easy to read.
I thinks it's the coloring too. It's just a happy, bright (but not too bright), welcoming deck. I do like reading with DruidCraft as well and the artwork in DruidCraft is jaw dropping. Just beautiful!
I love many of my decks. But, right now, I am in love with the art more than using the deck in a reading. I hope it does change and I believe it will.
These are my favorite RWS cards, I love these images: Empress, Death, Queen of Cups, Queen of Swords and the Nine of Pentacles. I want to just dive in and be right there next to them, except of course Death, but the artwork is cool.
Were you a Thoth or Marseille reader instead? Or, you just never bought the RWS.