PSA: You need a tarot deck in your life

Mysterious images, big questions—and maybe a real aha moment for you! Tarot doesn’t have to be about predicting the future: the 78 cards can help you organize your thoughts and tune in to your intuition. Or you can simply enjoy the beautiful illustrations. But which deck is right for you? Explore the basics, practical tips for choosing, and 20 intriguing options to get you started.

What’s in a tarot deck

A traditional tarot deck has 78 cards. The 22 Major Arcana cards are numbered from 0 to 21 and represent overarching themes in life. These include cards such as the Sun, the Empress, and the High Priestess. Their imagery offers a starting point for your own interpretations.

The remaining 56 cards make up the Minor Arcana. They deal with the challenges and experiences of everyday life and are divided into four suits: Pentacles, Swords, Wands, and Cups. That’s why you’ll find names like the Three of Cups and the King of Wands in many decks.

Not every deck creator sticks strictly to this structure, though. Some add extra cards; others change the names. The Weaver Tarot, for example, uses gender-neutral titles: Kings become “Rulers,” and Queens become “Sovereigns.” So check the deck’s structure and guidebook before buying.

From playing cards to a personal prompt for reflection

Tarot’s history spans several stages. Turkish Mamluk playing cards, which made their way to Western Europe, are considered a possible predecessor. The card game Tarocchi developed in Italy. French occultist Jean-Baptiste Alliette, known as Etteilla, later designed a deck specifically for fortune-telling and helped popularize that use.

Many decks take inspiration from the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot. The Thoth Tarot by Aleister Crowley and the Tarot de Marseille are also important reference points. All three traditions use 78 cards, but differ in some of the cards and their designs.

You don’t have to think of tarot as a way to predict the future. The cards can serve as a mirror for your own thoughts—as a tool for self-reflection, meditation, or thinking through decisions. What matters is what the images bring up for you, not the idea that a picture can determine your future.

How to find a deck that speaks to you

Forget the search for the one supposedly perfect tarot deck. Choose images that make you want to take a closer look. Maybe you love vibrant colors, or perhaps you want to see people you can relate to. Thanks to independent creators and crowdfunding, the options range from minimalist line art to elaborate fantasy worlds.

• For beginners: Look for an easy-to-understand guidebook with card meanings and simple spreads.
• For your personal taste: Decide whether classic symbolism or a fresh reinterpretation appeals to you more.
• For everyday use: Think about whether your deck will stay at home or come along with you.

20 tarot decks: Which one will take over your card table?

1. The Cosmo Tarot: an easy way to get started

Expressive collages meet a guidebook by Sarah Potter. The Cosmo Tarot was designed specifically for beginners. If you’re looking for an accessible introduction and enjoy having plenty to discover visually, this deck is worth a look.

2. Mystic Mondays Tarot: bring on the color!

Grace Duong uses bold colors and an optimistic visual style. Funded through Kickstarter, Mystic Mondays Tarot combines eye-catching artwork with instructions for reading the cards. The deck also comes with its own app—an intriguing option if you’d like to explore tarot digitally, too.

3. The Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot Deck: the classic

Want to get to know the imagery that so many other decks draw on? Then it’s hard to go wrong with Rider-Waite-Smith. The iconic illustrations were created by Pamela Colman Smith, whose contribution went unrecognized for far too long.

4. Ethereal Visions Illuminated Tarot Deck: a dazzling display

Hand-drawn imagery, Art Nouveau influences, and gold foil accents: Matt Hughes has made this deck a real showstopper. It also includes two extra cards. A lovely choice if you enjoy intricate artwork and want your tarot deck to make a visual statement.

5. The Illuminated Tarot: two decks in one

Caitlin Keegan’s deck has 53 cards. Some cards serve as both Major and Minor Arcana, so both sections are represented. You can also use the set as playing cards, for poker, for example. A practical pick if you love versatility.

6. The Luna Sol Tarot: gentle imagery, plenty of diversity

A soft color palette defines The Luna Sol Tarot. People of different skin tones, ages, and body types bring diversity to the imagery. The deck is based on Rider-Waite-Smith, offering a modern interpretation with a deliberately warm feel.

7. The Good Karma Tarot: a little guidance to get you started

Kerry Ward’s deck is aimed at beginners, but its charming illustrations may appeal to more experienced readers, too. It’s all about finding personal direction—whether you’re thinking about career options, sorting through relationship questions, or trying to better understand your gut feelings.

8. Tattoo Tarot: Ink & Intuition: bold imagery

Diana McMahon-Collins reimagines familiar Rider-Waite-Smith symbols in a classic tattoo style. If you love this look, you’ll find more than just tarot imagery—you might even get inspiration for tattoos, clothes, or hairstyles.

9. True Heart Intuitive Tarot: trust your instincts

Actress and tarot reader Rachel True puts intuitive interpretation front and center. The guidebook combines personal memories with practical instructions. Rather than just memorizing meanings, you’re encouraged to notice what the card images bring to mind.

10. Star Spinner Tarot: a fantastical range of characters

Comic artist Trung Le Nguyen, known as Trungles, fills this deck with fairies, mermaids, and other fantastical beings. Multiple versions of the Lovers card reflect different sexual orientations and ways of expressing romance. A visually striking pick for comic fans.

11. Neo Tarot: little prompts for self-care

Jerico Mandybur’s Neo Tarot pairs colorful, diverse characters with a detailed guidebook. Each card comes with a self-care suggestion. For the Four of Wands, for example, that might mean baking something sweet.

12. The Tazama African Tarot: history told through collage

Kenyan collage artist Safara Wanjagi combines historical images with African heritage and traditions. The deck is published by Abusua Pa, a Black-owned publisher. “Tazama” means “see” in Swahili.

13. She Wolfe Tarot: powerful imagery

Devany Amber Wolfe brings together goddess imagery, references to ancient Egypt, and nostalgic desert scenes. Diverse people and psychedelic designs give this feminist deck its distinctive look. Expect a strikingly original aesthetic rather than understated, conventional imagery.

14. El Tarot Deck: Millennial Lotería Edition

Mike Alfaro blends tarot with the game Lotería and celebrates Latinx culture. The guidebook focuses on self-reflection, heritage, and inspiration for personal goals. There’s humor, too—the point is definitely not to lay out a fixed future.

15. OK Tarot: radically minimal

Pink, simple, and stripped down to the essentials: Adam J. Kurtz leaves out elaborate scenes. The drawings are reminiscent of stick-and-poke tattoos. If complex imagery tends to distract you, this clean design might be just your style.

16. Kaleidadope Tarot: familiar symbols, fresh look

Krystal Banner combines the Rider-Waite-Smith framework with color, cultural diversity, and modern everyday imagery. The suit of Cups, for example, includes a red party cup and a patterned coffee mug. It brings familiar objects to your card table.

17. The Black Power Tarot: notable figures as archetypes

King Khan and illustrator Michael Eaton take inspiration from the Tarot de Marseille. Their deck features 25 figures from Black history and culture: Richard Pryor represents the Fool, Marie Laveau the High Priestess, and Eartha Kitt Justice.

18. Spirit Speak Tarot: expressive black-and-white artwork

Mary Elizabeth Evans reimagines Rider-Waite-Smith with folk-art-inspired imagery. The black-and-white cards are intentionally simple and accessible. Spirit Speak is an interesting option if you want beginner-friendly images without a burst of bright color.

19. Tarot of the Divine: discover stories from around the world

Yoshi Yoshitani draws on fairy tales, folklore, and spiritual traditions from a range of cultures, including China, Japan, Peru, and Māori traditions. The detailed illustrations come with a book explaining the backgrounds and meanings of the stories depicted.

20. Everyday Tarot Mini Tarot Deck: small and practical

This compact deck by Biddy Tarot founder Brigit Esselmont fits in a pocket or purse. Its focus is on practical self-reflection. If you like taking your cards with you, this mini format offers a handy option.

Your deck should feel right for you

Whether it’s a classic, a collage deck, or bright pink, choose cards you’ll enjoy spending time with. Use the guidebook and make room for your own impressions. Tarot doesn’t have to give you ready-made answers—sometimes a fresh question is the more exciting takeaway.