The most important quality in a tarot deck

[Pierre-Yves]

I'm not sure I'm in the right section, but I'll give it a go:

What do you consider to be the most important quality in a tarot deck?

 

On reflection, the quality of a tarot deck that matters most to me is the possibility of projecting myself into it. The ideal tarot deck is one that everyone can relate to. I'm looking for a tarot that's universal, so to speak.

 

That's why I'm not so keen on photographic tarot decks, or those where the characters are too typical. I prefer images where the characters are schematized. Neutral, in a way. A little ambiguity allows everyone to imagine themselves in the card.

 

[gregory]

That it actually IS tarot. I really dislike ones that change titles and backgrounds, or add suits, or create a deck that only gives positive readings or set up their whole own system..... Art style isn't that much of an issue for me - as long as it is true to the tradition.

[Pierre-Yves]

I'm also attached to tradition. There are a lot of interesting variations and proposals in very old games. Many people regard the Rider-Waite-Smith as a kind of bible. While Pamela Coleman Smith has done a remarkable job of illustrating the minor arcana, the meanings retained can be questioned. The tarot deck was originally a game. Its structure followed the rules of this table game. I like tarot that respects this structure, but with a playful spirit that recalls its origins.

 

[Chariot]

I agree with @gregory.  There is nothing wrong with creating new cards with pictures of various things on them that people can use to forecast, meditate with, or whatever. That's what oracle cards are, really.   But for me, unless there are 22 Major Arcana cards with the accepted traditional names of each, and four suits with 14 cards each, roughly named Wands/Batons, Cups/Chalices, Swords/Blades and Pentacles/Coins ...then the system is not Tarot.

 

I haven't had it happen to me yet, but I would be extremely annoyed if I bought a deck advertised by the seller as 'tarot,' only to find it deviated from these particular characteristics.   It's not that one system is preferable to another; it's that calling a card deck 'tarot' that doesn't have these characteristics misleads the buyer/user.  It's like calling a vehicle an automobile when it has only two wheels and is pulled by a horse. Both of these vehicles will get you there, but they certainly aren't the same.

The other make/break quality for me is physical, when it comes to a tarot deck.  The images must be easily seen and distinguished from one another so I don't make misreading mistakes during a session.  The cards must also be easy to handle and shuffle.

What the images actually contain—artwork, interpretation of tarot card meanings, etc—is in the eye of the beholder, I reckon.  Some decks speak to me; others don't.  

Edited July 18 by Chariot

[Drinasdreams]

For me personally I love to see art that actually coresponds to the meaning of the card rather than random images with randomer meanings. I love to see the artistic interpritation of the meanings of the cards rather then just art on a card. 

[geoxena]

On 7/18/2025 at 2:15 PM, gregory said:

I really dislike ones that change titles and backgrounds

 

Change the backgrounds?  What do you mean?  You own so many decks—surely you don't mean the background behind the main figures in the imagery.  Or do you mean something like the background information on the meanings? 

 

I agree with your other points, but this confused me for some reason.

 

 

 

 

Edited July 20 by geoxena

[gregory]

2 hours ago, geoxena said:

 

Change the backgrounds?  What do you mean?  You own so many decks—surely you don't mean the background behind the main figures in the imagery.  Or do you mean something like the background information on the meanings? 

 

I agree with your other points, but this confused me for some reason.

 

No no ! - the background to TAROT. Like making the deck represent something else - Akashic, Indigo, Greek mythology (without tying that to tarot). Putting the cards into a completely alien-to-tarot mindset.

[Tanga]

To read for others: definitely a deck that has imagery everyone can relate to (to the best of my understanding/imagination).

For myself: I love subject themed decks that are well matched to their Tarot meanings. I find it enjoyable to see a scene/idea from a film, story or myth that I like, neatly or interestingly matched to its assigned Tarot card.

 

Ala Gregory - It was the Daemon Tarot by Osborne & Bretton, that I bought and found to my disappointment - was really an oracle deck.

But - I like the deck so I still have it.

Edited July 20 by Tanga

[Croat]

Needless to say, this question is all about subjectivity, but I'll play.  For me the most important qualtiy in a Tarot deck is the feeling I get from it.  Sure, card stock, intriguing artwork, genre, theme, design, touch, size, etc. all have some impact, but in a way those are just data points.  At the end of the day my relationship with a Tarot deck, be it positive or less than positive, has to do with feelings, how it "speaks" to me and awakens something inside, not its data points. 

[Chariot]

15 hours ago, Croat said:

Needless to say, this question is all about subjectivity, but I'll play.  For me the most important qualtiy in a Tarot deck is the feeling I get from it.  Sure, card stock, intriguing artwork, genre, theme, design, touch, size, etc. all have some impact, but in a way those are just data points.  At the end of the day my relationship with a Tarot deck, be it positive or less than positive, has to do with feelings, how it "speaks" to me and awakens something inside, not its data points. 

I agree with you.  However, I have at least two decks in my small collection that speak to me in every way ...except the card stock and/or deck size make them nearly impossible to use in practice!  If the cards stick together, or don't shuffle well, they end up sitting on my shelf, being admired and nothing else.  Very frustrating.  I keep wishing they would be re-issued in an easier-to-use format.  😞