Welcome to the wonderful world of tarot! Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned reader we all need to acquire a new deck at some point in time. With so many options out there this task can be very daunting. 

Selecting a deck is as unique and individual to every person. There are various why it was chosen. Sometimes it can be as simple as a gift given to us. 

I think back and try to remember how I acquired each particular deck. Some I saw on social media, some I saw in the store, one deck was actually given to me. All were placed before me in a divinely manner. 

If you are looking to purchase a new deck there are a few things to consider. 

1. Oracle vs traditional tarot? Oracle decks do not follow the 78 card structure of a traditional deck. Oracles tend to be more advice or divine guidance and can vary in card amounts. Traditional tarot will have the major and minor arcana. 
2. What do I want to use the deck for? What you want to achieve with your deck will factor in what type of deck you choose. Are you wanting to do strictly love readings? Then choose a deck tailored to love readings. If you want something for general readings then a traditional “Ryder Waite”-ish deck may be more suitable. Want to give guidance or advice an oracle deck will best achieve this. 
3. What is your personality? Your personality will mesh with certain decks better. If you are a soft ethereal person choose a deck who’s theme is soft in graphics and ethereal looking. If your darker in energy then choose a deck with darker, stronger graphics. If your eccentric then chose a deck that’s more abstract. 
4. Does it call out to you? Ultimately it boils down to chemistry. Are you physically drawn to a particular deck? Does the imagery “sing” to you? Can you tell what it’s trying to say without looking up the meanings?
5. What is the cost? Often times finances come into play on what we choose. There are inexpensive decks for $4 and higher priced decks for over $150.  Choose what you can afford. If it’s out of your price range I’d suggest practicing your manifesting powers on obtaining the deck in desire. Let’s make this very clear. Cost of a deck does not affect the accuracy of a reading. What you are paying for is the artwork and materials. A simple deck of cards or index cards can do the same work as a higher priced deck. 
6. Does size matter? Decks come in all shapes and sizes and so do people’s hands. If you have smaller hands then the larger decks might be more difficult for you to handle. While the extra small cards may be harder for larger hands to shuffle. How do you plan on shuffling the deck? Special shapes might work better with spreading them all out vs a traditional shuffle.
7. What are they made of? Sometimes you are lucky enough to see a deck outside of its packaging (some shops will let you see others may not). Is the paper being used a good quality? Is it thick or thin? Is there a coating? How do they lay or shuffle due to or lack of coating? If you plan on using a deck a lot try to find decks that have a coating on them to the consistency of playing cards. A deck with thin paper and uncoated will be hard to shuffle and won’t hold up as long as others. 
8. Where will you keep your deck(s)? This may not be an issue for some people but others it can be. If you’re on the go a lot will the deck or decks fit in your bag? Are they heavy? Are you storing them in containers? Will they fit? How about shelving, are there any restrictions on height, length, and widths?

As you can see, there is a good amount to consider when getting a deck. I hope this helps you the next time you’re thinking about purchasing a new deck. When in doubt, just ask Spirit for guidance. 

Susie Rodriquez