It’s crazy how much can change, even in three months! I am revisiting the #tarotobsessed questions because much has changed. You can see my previous post here. If the answer hasn’t changed, I’ve kept it the same.
QUESTIONS:
1. What was your very first tarot deck?
My first tarot deck was Shadowscapes. I was at Barnes and Nobles one day looking at tarot cards for the first time, and it was the only deck I was drawn to. It’s still one of my favorite decks because the images are so beautiful.
2. What is your current favorite tarot deck?
I have a couple of current favorites.
First, is the Pagan Otherworlds. It reads so clearly and beautifully. It feels emotional, but grounded and straightforward. I feel towards it the way I feel about Stella’s Tarot, which is as close to a soul deck as a deck can get.
Second, is the Moon Void Tarot, which is my favorite contemporary deck. It’s so simple and relatable. I love the modern, minimalist feel, but it’s readable and not abstract.
Third, is the Antique Anatomy Tarot: Ephemera Edition. I just love the images and the vintage Victorian feel of the deck.
3. What is your most used tarot deck?
My most used tarot deck is definitely Stella’s Tarot. It is as close to a soul deck as any deck can be. It’s grounded and logical like me, and to me, it is accurate and dependable.
4. What is your least used tarot deck?
My least used decks are the Ellis decK and the Super 8-Bit Tarot, which is why I’m selling them. Some of these used to be my favorites, but I barely touch them anymore, and I want them to go on to good homes. (I was going to sell the Puppet Theatre Tarot as well since I don’t use it much anymore, but I got sad thinking of letting it go, so I’m keeping it!)
My other least used tarot deck is the Smith-Waite. I keep it around because it is the OG, and I treat it as a learning deck, but other than using it a little in the beginning when I first got it, I don’t use it at all for readings, only as a learning and reference tool. I looked through my tracker, and I’ve used it only three times in 2018.
5. How did you learn to read tarot?
I learned tarot through books! Reading is my favorite past time, and it is how I learn best. So I started with The Ultimate Guide to Tarot by Liz Dean and The New Tarot Handbook by Rachel Pollack. I like books that go into just enough detail and aren’t too lengthy, detailed, or esoteric.
I’ve since sold The Ultimate Guide to Tarot since I haven’t looked at it in almost a year and kept just The New Tarot Handbook. I’m looking for a good book that will allow me to do reflection or mindfulness exercises with tarot.
I also listened to Root Lock Radio, which is a podcast that teaches you how to read tarot. I found it sooo incredibly helpful, and I would listen to it on my commutes to and from work.
I did daily draws at the same time, kept a journal with my reflections, and took everything I learned and practiced reading for myself. I don’t read for other people other than my boyfriend.
I learn about new decks and fun hashtags from Katey Flowers (she’s my favorite) and several other YouTube tarot personalities.
6. What do you use tarot for?
I use tarot as a reflection tool. I like to do daily draws and think about how those draws will inform me of the day and then how those draws focus my reflections at the end of the day. I used to be more diligent about recording my reflections at the end of the day in my tarot journal, but I’ve been slacking on that.
7. How do you read tarot? (Intuition or book?)
When I first started, I used the book because I just didn’t know any of the meanings of the cards. Now that I know the meanings of the cards, I use those meanings as a starting point, and then I use my intuition. I use my intuition based on the images I see in the specific card and how it draws connections to my life.
8. Do you use spreads?
I like to do spreads for fun, and I really like the 365 Spreads book by Sasha Graham. I also like some of the spreads I see on Instagram or YouTube, but I don’t do spreads everyday.
9. Do you mix tarot with other divination systems?
I don’t. I tried getting into oracles, but I really like the structure of tarot, and I don’t like how oracles are all different and all over the place. I like sticking to one system.
10. What makes a great tarot deck?
For me, I need to be drawn to the art in the tarot deck. It has to speak to my intuition on some level. If the art doesn’t resonate with me, then I have a hard time building a connection with that deck. I like art that is simple, striking, and classic. I also like art that feels ethereal, mystical, or surreal.
I do not like decks with keywords on them, and I don’t like decks with non-illustrated pips. The only exception is the Antique Anatomy Tarot.
11. How important to you is it that a deck stick to the tarot system?
This is pretty important to me. I don’t like tarot decks that call themselves tarot and then aren’t really tarot but are really just oracle decks. I am open to decks that have their own interpretations of the traditional symbolism, as long as they are still loosely connected. I prefer the RWS system, but I am open to Thoth aligned decks as well, as long as there are no keywords on the cards. I find that Thoth decks tend to have art that is more abstract, so I find them harder to read with. I do not enjoy Marseilles decks as much since I do depend on some sort of visual cues or symbolism in images to help inform my readings.
12. Do you have any back up decks?
I don’t! My favorite deck is Stella’s Tarot, so that is the only one I would get a backup for, but it is not a readily available deck, so I haven’t been able to get a back up copy.
13. Do you have any unusual/unique decks?
I think my most unusual decks are the Zombie Tarot and the Carnival at the End of the World.
My most unique deck is probably the Fairytale Tarot, which I’m so happy to have finally gotten!! I love reading the fairytales associated with each card. They are so apt and carefully chosen to convey the card’s meaning.
14. What’s your current deck crush?
My deck crush is definitely the Fantastic Menagerie Tarot. It’s probably a deck that I will never have the opportunity to get since everybody be crushin’ on it, but I can still dream, which is the whole point of a crush.
I am also rooting for the Sylvia Ritter deck and the Yoshi Yoshitani Fairy Tale Tarot. Neither of these are official decks yet, but I know the artists are working on them, and I really hope they become actual decks!
15. Do you read reversals?
I don’t read reversals. I’m not completely closed off to the idea, but I like keeping all of my decks upright. Maybe it’s the Virgo in me, but I like things orderly, and reversals I feel introduce messiness and chaos.
16. If you could only use one deck, which would it be?
If I could only use one deck, it would have to be Stella’s Tarot, of course, as that is my soul deck!!
Tarot Whimsy 