Help please (Poll included)

[Crystal Raven]

Before app 5 years ago, i never read Tarot cards just regualr playing cards. When I went to get my first tarot deck I didn't know much and was drawn to the Dragon Tarot. Now don't get me wrong, its a beautiful deck and I love it, but I still can't read it after 5 years!!!
So now I am looking for a beginner deck...i have done quite a bit of research and are down to the following:

Baroque Bohemian Cats' Tarot
Tarot of The White Cat
The Gilded Tarot
The Robin Wood Tarot

(all are based on the Rider-Wait symbology and recommended for beginners)


which do i pick???

I can't go to a metaphysical store and feel them out, we have none near by, so have to order the deck in.

[WitchCraftWeaver]

Before app 5 years ago, i never read Tarot cards just regualr playing cards. When I went to get my first tarot deck I didn't know much and was drawn to the Dragon Tarot. Now don't get me wrong, its a beautiful deck and I love it, but I still can't read it after 5 years!!!
So now I am looking for a beginner deck...i have done quite a bit of research and are down to the following:

Baroque Bohemian Cats' Tarot
Tarot of The White Cat
The Gilded Tarot
The Robin Wood Tarot

(all are based on the Rider-Wait symbology and recommended for beginners)


which do i pick???

I can't go to a metaphysical store and feel them out, we have none near by, so have to order the deck in.


I find the Golden Tarot is VERY easy to read. The pictures for each of the cards is such that it tells a story very easily understood, even by me. ;)

[LisaT4P]

I have to vote for Robin Wood. My 2nd choice is Gilded.

Both would be good for beginners. I especially like RW because of the easily approachable Devil and Death cards, not as stark as the traditional RWS decks, not as literal & Christian. Although RW does include a Pope-like figure on the Hierophant card that some people have trouble relating to. I often replace that picture in my head with one of Taliesin / Merlin as a Teacher. :)

The Gilded is more polished and is just LOADED with symbols if you're looking. It includes astrological and animal symbols so if that means anything to you, then you're good. The one thing that irked me about it at first is that some of the people look like photos and not artwork, if you know what I mean. I don't tend to like photographic decks, so it took me a while to get used to that. It is VERY colorful and for some it has been too "busy" for them.

I believe that the White Cats deck is Lo Scarabeo and I generally don't recommend their decks to beginners. They tend to be a bit hard to read because they lose the more traditional symbolism in the effort to make the deck more thematic.

The BBCT is very nice. I got this as a gift for a friend who has 9 cats. It was her first deck. I also got her the book It's All in the Cards: Tarot Reading Made Easy by John Mangiapane (otherwise known as Tarotbear from www.tarotform.net (http://www.tarotform.net)). I wanted her to like the deck and it's theme, but I also wanted her to have a solid book to learn from.

In fact, I'd recommend the book for whatever deck you buy! Tarotbear's approach to teaching is great. :)

[Verthandi]

The Robin Wood deck is excellent.

I also recommend the Vikings Tarot (http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/vikings/). The art is very lovely and comes right from Norse mythology.

My deck of choice is the Tarot of Northern Shadows (http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/northern-shadows/). The images chosen for each card are just beautiful and I find it easy to read.

[Schadowweaver]

I started with the Animal Speak set and quickly learned that the animal kingdom worked better for me when I am guiding myself. Then I switched to RW and have been using them for a little over a year. They've worked very well. But it never Wood : ) have occurred to me until they grabbed me by the eye one day in a small store. Ya never know until they find you.

[Against The Tide]

Eventualy, go for them all - It is good to have a set of decks to suit different needs, but I have to say a Robin Wood deck should be your first choice. I find it very easy to work with and if you are reading for other people they will be captivated by the illustrations.