Jenny MilamI was drawn to the idea of tarot and oracle cards for years. I loved the mysticism and the beautiful imagery, and I was intrigued by the idea of uncovering hidden truths simply by shuffling a deck and laying them out on a table.
And yet they always seemed a bit, well, inaccessible. I wanted to be the kind of person who read tarot, but that knowledge seemed too arcane, too esoteric. I loved studying astrology, but tarot was somehow untouchable. Luckily I eventually got over that particular mental block, and a decade later I’m so, so very happy that I did.
Since I started reading, tarot and oracle cards have become far more mainstream. Yet they’re still intimidating, and even a little scary, for some people. And one of the main reasons is due to a pesky little myth that has been around for ages: You’re not a real tarot reader if you buy your own first tarot deck.
Why This Is So Ridiculous
So, right off the bat, let’s call this “rule” what it is — some gatekeeping nonsense. The general idea is that you’re not allowed to purchase your first deck. It must be gifted to you. More specifically, it must be gifted to you by a “real” tarot reader.
This restriction, plain and simple, is designed to keep people out of the Very Special Mystics Club (TM) and puts forth the idea that someone must deem you worthy of such special knowledge.
But tarot doesn’t belong to any one group. It can be an immensely helpful tool for your personal and spiritual development, for tapping into your own intuition, and even for shadow work. No one should have a monopoly on that — no matter how long they’ve been a “real” reader or how they came to own their first deck.
Not Every Deck Will Resonate
The thing is, choosing your own deck — especially the one you’ll learn to read on — is essential if you’re going to really connect with it. Because not every deck is for every person.
It’s commonly recommended that readers learn on a Rider-Waite deck or a derivative of it, mostly because so many other decks are based on that symbolism. And that base knowledge will make reading other decks easier as a result.
But not everyone resonates with Rider-Waite. And that’s ok. There are as many decks out there as there are personalities.
I personally like old-world imagery, and I’m drawn to decks with Arthurian/Avalonian, Pagan, and Druidic themes. But some people will connect with more modern-feeling tarot or oracle decks, or ones based on specific cultures.
There are decks about people, decks about animals, decks filled with abstract art, and decks based on hobbies like gardening or crafting. There are light and uplifting decks or dark and brooding ones. If you can think of something you’re interested in, it’s nearly guaranteed to already exist in tarot form. So if you’re more drawn to adorable cat illustrations than serious metaphysical themes, there is absolutely a deck out there for you.
And if you wait around for someone to choose your deck for you, you could be missing out on something extraordinary.
Tarot Is for Everyone
As I said before, no one has a monopoly on tarot. And not everyone will be interested in it either. But I do believe it can be an amazing tool for personal development, and I encourage everyone to give it a shot at some point. Not only can it help to develop your own intuition, but it can offer clarity on sticky situations as well, by helping you to uncover the truth that’s already inside you.
This is not to say that professional readers don’t have their place. Please hear me when I say they absolutely do. If you’ve never gotten a professional reading, I highly recommend it. Tarot can — and perhaps should — be a lifelong study, and an experienced reader will have insights that someone who’s only been reading for one, five, or even ten years just won’t.
But while these cards are absolutely magical, they are also meant for everyone. And anyone who tells you different is likely selling something.
Andromeda Davis
Katy Holloway
