Yeah I have to be honest, I am not a fan of that deck. The artwork has been made too vague. It feels like it was made to have generic deck pictures on her posts and website. Any RWS would be better but some of the more vintage versions have a nicer card stock than the modern plasticated versions 🙂 . RWS has proper artwork that you can look at the detail!

Also some people don't get on with RWS style decks, I always recommend it to beginners but it doesn't fit everyone's taste. If you don't get on with the vintage RWS, post in the Decks section here with the sort of things you like and we can give you suggestions. For example cats, trees, whatever you like! We sometimes have to shop around for the decks we connect with the most 🙂 . Don't feel upset, finding decks that suit us for reading is a journey! I know what fits me and what doesn't but I mostly had to buy them first

Hello! 🙂 Traditional RWS wasn't my first deck either. I acquired it later, as I felt it seemed more didactic for my initial studies. I think it's quite natural that throughout our tarot studies we look for other decks, alternative resources that meet the needs of the moment. Don't feel guilty. Maybe it would be interesting not to think that you replaced him. Each deck has its proposal. Each one has its alphabet, its language, its language. Along the way, you'll probably have even more decks. And you will use your first one again at different times. In some situations, you will be more connected to him, in others you will not. And everything is fine! What really matters is the study, the appreciation for art. The curiosity to learn and the desire to have interesting experiences, regardless of which deck it is!
A big hug and a great journey to you!

My favorite book is 84 Charing Cross Land by Helene Hanff. In it, she's reading Oxford essays trying to give herself an education, and every time the author mentions something she's never heard of before, she puts down the essay and says, "Wait here." I'll be right back! kind of thing. She then goes off to investigate that new thing. Ever since I read that, I've used the same mindset. You don't know what you don't know until you encounter it. The deck fell flat for you, right now. So you can tell it, "Wait here. I'll be back!" You never know when you might reach for that deck for a special reason in the future! 

4 hours ago, DanielJUK said:

Yeah I have to be honest, I am not a fan of that deck. The artwork has been made too vague. It feels like it was made to have generic deck pictures on her posts and website. Any RWS would be better but some of the more vintage versions have a nicer card stock than the modern plasticated versions 🙂 . RWS has proper artwork that you can look at the detail!

 

Also some people don't get on with RWS style decks, I always recommend it to beginners but it doesn't fit everyone's taste. If you don't get on with the vintage RWS, post in the Decks section here with the sort of things you like and we can give you suggestions. For example cats, trees, whatever you like! We sometimes have to shop around for the decks we connect with the most 🙂 . Don't feel upset, finding decks that suit us for reading is a journey! I know what fits me and what doesn't but I mostly had to buy them first

It's because of the RWS deck that I wanted to take a look at the visuals and compare them to my dream deck that I plan on getting in the near future. I'll definitely take a look at the decks section and drop a comment in. Ah, I see! I was always seeing things like "don't hoard tarot decks!! It's bad!!"

3 hours ago, Yola said:

Hello! 🙂 Traditional RWS wasn't my first deck either. I acquired it later, as I felt it seemed more didactic for my initial studies. I think it's quite natural that throughout our tarot studies we look for other decks, alternative resources that meet the needs of the moment. Don't feel guilty. Maybe it would be interesting not to think that you replaced him. Each deck has its proposal. Each one has its alphabet, its language, its language. Along the way, you'll probably have even more decks. And you will use your first one again at different times. In some situations, you will be more connected to him, in others you will not. And everything is fine! What really matters is the study, the appreciation for art. The curiosity to learn and the desire to have interesting experiences, regardless of which deck it is!
A big hug and a great journey to you!

I'm definitely someone who enjoys learning so the guilt of getting a new tarot deck is beginning to subside just a bit. While I'm sure the RWS probably won't stick with me for very long, I wanted to look at it in person at its details and practice simple spreads before working my way up to my dream deck (Ethereal Visions: Luna Edition). I'm sure it's not necessary to do so, but this how I'd start going about it or else I'll find myself swimming in multiple tarot decks!

A big hug back and thank you!! I'm very excited to be on this journey and I've already begun to journal my journey in a physical notebook! I feel like there's so much to learn!

2 hours ago, lauri_tarot said:

My favorite book is 84 Charing Cross Land by Helene Hanff. In it, she's reading Oxford essays trying to give herself an education, and every time the author mentions something she's never heard of before, she puts down the essay and says, "Wait here." I'll be right back! kind of thing. She then goes off to investigate that new thing. Ever since I read that, I've used the same mindset. You don't know what you don't know until you encounter it. The deck fell flat for you, right now. So you can tell it, "Wait here. I'll be back!" You never know when you might reach for that deck for a special reason in the future! 

That's a great mindset to have, actually. I think I'll start to implement it should future decks fall flat for me, as you've put it.

Thank you so much for your kind words and advice!✨

27 minutes ago, aetherflow said:

 

It's because of the RWS deck that I wanted to take a look at the visuals and compare them to my dream deck that I plan on getting in the near future. I'll definitely take a look at the decks section and drop a comment in. Ah, I see! I was always seeing things like "don't hoard tarot decks!! It's bad!!"

You can do whatever you want and feels comfortable for you in your tarot journey. Most people have a few different decks, some people have hundreds. It's not bad but a personal choice really (and dictated by finances and space! hehe). Also it's worth learning and really practising with one deck and adding more as you get a good foundation for reading.

17 minutes ago, DanielJUK said:

 

You can do whatever you want and feels comfortable for you in your tarot journey. Most people have a few different decks, some people have hundreds. It's not bad but a personal choice really (and dictated by finances and space! hehe). Also it's worth learning and really practising with one deck and adding more as you get a good foundation for reading.

I've definitely been practicing with pulling one card a day and have just recently started doing three card spreads. I'm still a bit of a messy reader but I found that journaling and trusting my intuition has been helping. I've tried not picking up the guidebook until I've finished reading to see how close I am to what I interpreted. I'd say I'm doing okay so far but I don't think I"ll ever stop being a ''student'' when it comes to learning ✨

58 minutes ago, aetherflow said:

... I was always seeing things like "don't hoard tarot decks!! It's bad!!"

Let's unpack that. There's no one size fits all!

Are you a minimalist? Then 1 deck is right for you.

Beginner? Then 1-3 decks is good. Any more and you prolly start getting confused.

My first 15 years I only had one deck [RWS].

This was normal before the explosion of consumerism hit Tarot world. People had 1 or 2 decks. It changed since social media and digital printing.

Committed collector? Some folks have hundreds of decks. Some have a side hustle buying and selling collectible decks.

I'm a professional reader and teacher. I have 78 various tarots, le normands, oracles, etc. They all fit on one book case. If I get a new deck ... and old one must go. So it's always 78 and always fits neatly on that book shelf.

Hoarding anything is a disease ... but depending on your personality, skill, level, house size, etc. there is a *right size* for you & tarots that isn't hoarding b/c you use what you have.

There's a thread about right size of collection somewhere on this forum.

53 minutes ago, aetherflow said:

While I'm sure the RWS probably won't stick with me for very long, I wanted to look at it in person at its details and practice simple spreads before working my way up to my dream deck (Ethereal Visions: Luna Edition).

For students it never hurts to have a RWS since this is the most widely published deck.

ALso never hurts to have a marseille or Tarocchi style so you don't get so dependent on those illustrated pips.

BUT if Ethereal Visions is your *soul deck*  ... then get that one and chuck the others!💖 

If you only want one deck ... be in love with your 1 deck!

29 minutes ago, DanielJUK said:

... worth learning and really practising with one deck and adding more as you get a good foundation for reading.

Yes. It's better to really learn one deck than not-really-learn numerous decks!

2 hours ago, Misterei said:

it's always 78 and always fits neatly on that book shelf.

I love this!

Came to this site to do some cross referencing, saw this post and had to add. 

If it's not right right now, it might be later. 

The best thing you can do is go with the flow and learn with what works for you.

o got my first Lenormand deck and it sat unused for about 20 years before I felt ready to look at it. There are no hard and fast rules that you must use something to be right. RWS is the best to learn from the rest are dressings usually based on it. Go with what works for you to do what you need to learn at your pace.

6 hours ago, TW119 said:

The best thing you can do is go with the flow and learn with what works for you.

Quote

 There are no hard and fast rules that you must use something to be right.

You're absolutely right!

It's very easy for me to get overwhelmed by the types of information and what you ''should and should not do'' I come across online (mainly spread examples I see on Pinterest). But you're right when it comes to learning what works for me. I'll keep reminding myself to do that!

Woow @aetherflow, the Ethereal Visions: Luna Edition is really amazing! I'm sure one day it will be yours! I also want a deck of my dreams (which is not coincidentally) called  Dream Vision Tarot 2.0. I live in Brazil and importing decks from another country becomes really expensive. But one day I will have my Dream Vision 😍
Writing about your tarot studies is very enriching - and enjoyable! I also have a notebook of insights, records, tarot experiences. I hope your journey is always fun!

I had to move Biddy Tarot on. The minimal visual is not my reading style and requires much too much memorization, not a good first deck, IMO. 
 

I did not start with an RWS deck, but, like many here have shared, it really is the deck to learn from. I took a class that did a deep dive into every single card and learning this deck completely changed my confidence and ability to both embrace and remember the energy each individual card holds. 
 

Maybe this question has already been answered and I missed it, but, is it an option to have the RWS for learning and study and the Ethereal Visions Luna Edition as the deck that speaks to you? I ask only because having the different, yet same cards side-by-side can create a bond with both decks.  For example, you’ll be able to see how the Ethereal Vision Moon card enhances or shifts the RWS Moon card. Pulling the same cards from another deck while learning turned out to be a valuable technique for me.
 

Happy Reading! 

On 3/3/2024 at 2:27 AM, FindYourSovereignty said:

 the Ethereal Vision Moon card enhances or shifts the RWS Moon card. Pulling the same cards from another deck while learning turned out to be a valuable technique for me.

Me too. Especially with the Moon card which is rather sinister in RWS yet more benign in Legacy of the Divine [for example]. Moon is a card that can really change in different decks. Also Devil.