It’s in the Cards: Our Best Tarot Deck Recommendations

The O.G. of tarot decks, The Rider-Waite Tarot deck is the perfect set for beginners. Pamela Colman Smith’s allegorical illustrations date back to 1909 when the deck was first published and portray her mysticism, ritual, imagination, fantasy and emotions, setting the standard for hundreds of decks to follow. Simple and easy to use, this classic deck never goes out of style.

We have one word for this deck: Wow! One of our Best Books of 2020, Tarot of the Divine is a stunning collection from artist Yoshi Yoshitani, and once you get your hands on these cards, you’ll understand why. Through vivid imagery, each card tells a story of deities, folklore and fairytales from all around the world. The 1000-piece Tarot of the Divine Puzzle is a great companion for collectors and fans of Princess Kaguya.

The perfect deck for the millennial or Gen Z witch and beginners of tarot! Illustrator Lisa Sterle’s Modern Witch Tarot Deck is a modern take on the classic Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck featuring diverse illustrations of different races and body types, in a fashionable package. Of all the decks we’re featuring, this deck uses a thicker, glossy cardstock which makes for a very sturdy deck. Overflowing with female empowerment, this modern deck is current with the times and, overall, just cute as a button – a B&N favorite!

The perfect companion to the Modern Witch Tarot Deck is The Modern Witch Journal which is a great way to keep track of your spreads. Readers can fill it with inspiring thoughts, card meanings and interpretations. There are so many connections between tarot and astrology so reflect on how a card relates to your sign and jot down your notes.

Created by Darren Shill and Mike Medaglia, The Luna Sol Tarot is a beautiful deck with light and airy illustrations. The art and symbolism of each card are soft, gentle, cozy, and with muted colors, leaving readers feeling very inspired. Unlike the other decks, this cardstock has a matte finish, which will be ideal for photographs, and the imagery in this deck is great for beginners to help them understand the meaning of each card. This deck features two exclusive cards for Wu Wei and Duality.

Numen means “spirit or divine power presiding over a thing or place.” With contemporary illustrations featuring powerful women, the White Numen tarot deck is made for a powerful woman. While most of the cards feature human depictions, Alba Ballesta González’s illustrations are designed to help the reader form a connection between the natural and the spiritual. The cards in this deck are glossy and flexible with fun, vivid colors in the illustrations, with each suit sharing its own color scheme. The deck also comes with two bonus cards — the White Numen and the Black numen.

“If the universe were to sleep, where would her dreams lead?” The title of this deck is absolutely perfect because these cards feel like you’re being transported into a dream. Award-winning artist and graphic novelist Tillie Walden brings us this vibrant, beautiful and spellbinding deck influenced by Manga and the art of Studio Ghibli. Comic book and graphic novel fans will love The Cosmic Slumber Tarot deck! The box comes with a magnetic panel at the bottom that keeps your deck nice and secure, as well as two bonus cards – The Morning and The Night.

Beautifully painted by Kathryn Briggs as a means to cope with life’s unexpected hurdles, each card in this deck serves as the perfect companion to aid in a period of transition. These cards are smaller than your average tarot deck, yet fairly thick and larger than a deck of playing cards. With many Greek-inspired, abstract illustrations rich in color, Briggs gives us a very different interpretation of the tarot’s traditional illustrations. Calming, meditative and powerful, the story of this deck — as outlined in the introductory booklet — will feel very personal and relatable to many. Gratitude and Invocation are the bonus cards that come with this deck.

If you find Guillermo del Toro a fascinating and creative talent, feast your eyes on this tarot deck featuring mind-bending and creepy images, as interpreted by artist Tomás Hijo. There’s so much to work with in del Toro’s oeuvre. This deck is perfect for anyone who appreciates tarot or del Toro’s films.