The "training wheels" decks

greatdane

A friend's young teen daughter has shown some interest in the cards and I wanted to get her a deck with just some key words or something on them. Yes, I know there are books, but I also know she likely won't read one at this stage. If more interest is there after she has a deck for a bit, I would get her one, but for now I want to keep it really simple. Out of all the decks that have any key words, simple RWS symbolism, any suggestions for someone this age group? THANKS!
 

atypical

Since you say that she is a young teen, it might be good to choose a deck where the "scary" cards have been toned down (even if she can handle it, her parents might disapprove).

Here are a couple of links found via Google:

http://www.tarotize.com/2012/01/top-10-tarot-decks-for-kids-tweens-and.html
http://www.tarotpedia.com/wiki/Tarot_Decks:_Children_friendly
http://www.usgamesinc.com/Vanessa-Tarot/

Here are a couple of decks I found with keywords:

Quest Tarot (lots of nudity, but it's Barbie-doll like nudity)
Angel Tarot by Doreen Virtue
Wildwood Tarot
Osho Zen tarot

I also found this thread on keyword decks
http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=128267
 

greatdane

Thanks so much, atypical and tarotwolf!

Lovely choices and you're right, Atypical, I wanted something "tame" for her to start. I appreciate both your thoughts so much! I wanted to kind of ease her into it, see if she really had an interest, and get something her parents would be fine with (they're fine with her having a tarot deck, but obviously I want to make it age appropriate).
 

Myrrha

I would not recommend Doreen virtue's Angel Tarot for someone that age. Leaving aside the huge changes that have been made to the Majors and the Suits, the artwork is a very busy detailed style. Artwork that is visually bold and simple will seem less overwhelming and is more in tune with what young people seem to like these days going by the covers of older children's and Young Adult books. (Yes, I know there are always exceptions)

Would it be possible to let her choose from a selection of decks? You could even include decks like the Vanessa or Fenestra that don't have keywords and write the keywords in yourself.
 

Penthasilia

Why not the quick and easy?

http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/quick-easy/

More than keywords- but it has the upright and reversed meanings on the cards themselves and uses the RWS deck- so she can become familiar with the typical imagery and move from there.

Nice- as she won't need a book at all to start- but may if there are just keywords or the images are ambiguous.

:)
 

Emily

I know you can buy cheat sheets like this one

http://www.paranormality.com/order_form.shtml

But they are pretty expensive and usually RWS symbolism. Joan Bunning's site Learn Tarot has keyword charts that could be printed out then laminated. Also one of our members nexyjo made these keyword charts up.

http://www.tarotforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=59926&d=1350834724
http://www.tarotforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=59927&d=1350834772
http://www.tarotforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=59928&d=1350834808
http://www.tarotforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=59929&d=1350834877
http://www.tarotforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=59930&d=1350834934
http://www.tarotforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=59931&d=1350834962

I've altered nexyjo's charts over the years to make my own keyword charts for the decks I use. :)

Edit
I have the original nexyjo chart somewhere in a spreadsheet, I'll have a look to see if I can find it, it's much smaller than the charts on the links.
 

SarahJoy

greatdane said:
A friend's young teen daughter has shown some interest in the cards and I wanted to get her a deck with just some key words or something on them. Yes, I know there are books, but I also know she likely won't read one at this stage. If more interest is there after she has a deck for a bit, I would get her one, but for now I want to keep it really simple. Out of all the decks that have any key words, simple RWS symbolism, any suggestions for someone this age group? THANKS!
Click to expand...

I'd take a look at the Deck of the Bastard. I don't know if it would appeal to the young lady, aesthetically, because it's intentionally "old" looking. It does have the old-world-mysticism feel, with the "aged" aesthetic. The deck can be ordered with keywords on the face, which might suit her. Custom card backs are also available, which is awesome.

There are semi-RWS majors, and straight-up RWS minors, which may be useful should the young lady end up pursuing a long-term interest in Tarot.

The creator is a member here on the forum, http://tarotforum.net/member.php?u=43666 , and she offers a discount for orders placed through Aeclectic forums (compared to higher etsy prices.) Just PM her for more info.
 

Mystic Zyl

In my opinion RWS is the way to go...I am not a fan of oracles at all.
 

Aeric

You might consider a standard pack of playing cards with a sheet of single keywords to get her started. Very fast, quick and dirty practice with them can lock the keywords in her mind before she progresses to Tarot that provides more detail with its imagery and the deeper Majors.
 
Watcher Angel Tarot... does anyone know how to buy a copy? Deviant Moon Tarot 2013