New comer, question please?

[Rick]

Hello all, my name is Rick, I'm retired and would like to try and learn more about Tarot and the readings. But first I'd like to find a good book and a quality set of cards. Most I've seen have poor reviews, and are cheap, thin, mass produced. Does anyone know of a good set commercially available please?  

 

I hope you don't mind a man in your midst, but at 70, I'm reading more, and slowing down some due to health. I look forward to learn all about the readings as I can. Thanks all Rick, UK. 

[Raggydoll]

Welcome!
 

Personally, I’d buy a standard RWS tarot - perhaps the Centennial Smith Waite version, and then go to learntarot.com and use that as the foundation for card meanings. It will be very affordable and you’ll have everything you need to get properly started with tarot. 

[Rick]

We'll thank you Raggydoll, I'll look at that. I cannot believe all that content is free to all? 

[Raggydoll]

26 minutes ago, Rick said:

We'll thank you Raggydoll, I'll look at that. I cannot believe all that content is free to all? 

It’s entirely free and it’s a great resource! I used it myself when I was new to tarot and many others here did the same 😀

[DanielJUK]

Welcome to the community @Rick Don't worry Men are allowed here 😆 we are present in this community! 🙂

 

The problem with tarot decks is that it's subjective and depends what artwork you like. One suggestion if you know you really like something, to look for artwork of that genre and category. RWS is a really good deck to have. Most people learn with it and it's a "tarot classic". Some people don't get on with it at all as the artwork is not what they like. But it's worth having it in your collection. As you progress, you can buy other decks if you want to that you feel drawn towards and you might always use a different deck in future. But we don't know what will fit you as a person 🙂 . So I second what Raggydoll says!

 

You might want to post about this in our Tarot Talk & Technique section, you may get more discussion than in the introduction threads which are really for welcoming new people in their aim.

 

Also there is a great thread started by our own @Raggydoll of free resources here

 

I love Learn Tarot for people starting out as well. Top Tip, you can buy it in a book version and it supports Joan's website and you have a physical form. I bought the book ages ago and it's huge and has the exercises like the website and answers in the back. It's on Amazon and most UK book shops and called Learning the Tarot by Joan Bunning.

 

Some other resource links for you....

 

from our old tarot forum Aelectic, their list of decks best for beginners -

 

https://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/beginner.shtml

 

For some Deck inspiration for you

 

and for Books, someone posted a great book list on our site in the past....

 

 

The free resources on that link are great, if you want to buy a good reference book I don't think you can go wrong with a Mary Greer, Barbara Moore, Rachel Pollack or Joan Bunning (learn tarot lady) book.

[joy]

Hello @Rick welcome to the TT&M Family

[Rick]

Thanks for the warm welcome and advice.😊 The cards come tomorrow all being well. I've now seen the 78 week thread, so my question has really been answered, over keen maybe?

[MysteriousThings]

https://ravenandrogue.com/products/tarotorial

Tarotorial is a great deck for beginners. Each card has the meanings right on it.

[gregory]

 I think the images are of primary importance. That deck would just lead to rote reading. Is it your site, @MysteriousThings? If so, my apologies for any offence, but that's one horrible deck!

Edited April 10, 2022 by gregory
My predictive text sucks and I'd missed a shocker!

[Rick]

Hi Gregory.

No the site has nothing to do with me. I've only the Journal we started, when you mentioned it. I drew the "Page of cups yesterday", but did not see any deep meaning in it. But it did seem to suggest keeping going, and stay positive? Do you have to have a question each time you do  READING?

 

I've not been well for quite some time, but recently have just found some positivity. Could the cards have some health meanings? Maybe next week I'll do a reading and ask, is my health picking up this year?  Cheers Rick.

[MysteriousThings]

On 4/10/2022 at 8:24 AM, gregory said:

 I think the images are of primary importance. That deck would just lead to rote reading. Is it your site, @MysteriousThings? If so, my apologies for any offence, but that's one horrible deck!

I, too, think the images are most important. But the question was about learning the meanings of the cards and I find it better than reading a book on it for newbies. Everyone has their favorite decks, there is no need to bash whoever made this one. I don't know why my suggestion offends you. Marie, from Maries Table only uses playing cards. People learn in different ways and should have options instead of being told "this is the only way".