Beginner resources?

[universalme]

Hi all

I've just started taking my first steps into my tarot journey, I'm thinking about buying my first deck but don't know where to start and there's so many books out there, I'm a little overwhelmed

What resources would you recommend for a beginner? decks, books, websites... I'm open to all suggestions

thank you in advance

Comments

[flybirds]

Do you have any style you feel drawn to, or things that interest you already? :)

Might be easier knowing something about your path to this point.

I personally like Little Red Tarot website & linked others, since Beth Maiden keeps track of the tarot news / variety of styles beyond indie, long term.

[universalme]

I like styles that are more whimsical than serious, more colourful than somber and a cards that aren't too big. I tried a rider waite deck but it felt very... clumsy in my hands, like it didn't fit me.

[flybirds]

How does Revelations deck strike you? :) Or Shadowscapes?

[universalme]

Revelations is so pretty, thank you for the recommendation. It's now sitting in my Amazon basket!

[flybirds]

<3

You are so welcome, glad you found something you like.

[alexseanchai]

Seconding Little Red Tarot. LearnTarot.com is a really good resource for people working with Rider-Waite-Smith–based decks.

[universalme]

LearnTarot.com looks interesting, thank you

[hitokage]

If you can, look at a variety of decks and find one where the art really resonates with you. If you can get the deck in a bundle with its book, that will give you the insights of the artist, which can be helpful. When I was starting I picked up a copy of Llewellyn's Tarot for Beginners by P. Scott Hollander, and though it has a definite Rider-Waite bias, it's not a bad starting point.

[chinashopbull]

Thirding Little Red Tarot (the blog specifically, which has shut down but is fully archived). Also, if you're able/willing to pay money for any kind of "learn tarot" info, the Alternative Tarot Course on LRT helped me a lot and supposedly is re-opening sometime this summer

Biddy Tarot is another kinda go-to. There's a lot more "Buy my webinar!" junk on the website than there used to be, but the free info is pretty beginner-friendly.

For books, Rachel Pollack — the one people rec is 78 Degrees of Wisdom, tho I haven't read it myself.

Regarding decks... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ As far as I can tell most people kinda agonize over chosing their first deck, then as they start to work with it and get a "feel" for how they want to work with tarot, pretty quickly and decisively end up with a second deck that they use much much more, and that's the one they really learn with. At least, that's how it was for me and like every person I know who does tarot stuffs on a regular basis. You might get lucky, though, who knows.

So first starting out? Just pick one you like, or one you can get your hands on most easily.

Can't learn to ride a bike without a bike, right? Doesn't need to be the perfect one. Just needs to be one with all the parts and that's comfortable/attractive enough to you that you'll actually wanna use it.

I'm of the mind that the deck in your hands is your #1 best resource for learning.

It's less overwhelming once you get some momentum :)

[universalme]

Thank you. I think this is something I needed to hear :)