By Michelle Crandell
When choosing a Tarot deck, ask yourself:
1. Is the deck a 78-card Tarot deck with twenty-two Major Arcana cards? Is the Fool numbered zero and the World (Universe), twenty-one? Does the rest of the deck resemble playing cards, with four suits numbered Ace through Ten and FOUR Royalty cards in each suit: King, Queen, Knight, Page?
2. Are the cards “readable?” “Readable” Major Arcana have a name and number on each card and a visual image matching the card’s name. For example, the “Star” card should have the word “Star,” the number 17 or XVII, and a visual image that includes a star.
3. How are the four suits identified? The suit of Swords is called Swords. The suit of Cups might be called Chalices; Rods called Wands or Staves; Pentacles called Coins or Discs. A “readable deck” names and numbers the card and a picture matching the number and suit. For example: Two of Wands has the number two and a picture of two wands on the card.
Court cards have people in the picture. For example, the Queen of Cups has a queen and a cup and the name, Queen of Cups on the card. Some decks add color coding, further identifying each suit.
4. What is the imagery like? Some decks are full of dark imagery while some are playful; some are simple, some very complicated . . . and everything in between. Before you choose a deck, look at as many of the deck’s images as possible. How do the images affect you mentally, emotionally, and energetically?
Next month, I will write about three decks I use and why I like each one.
Michelle Crandell provides individual Tarot readings for a fee. Once a year, she teaches LEARN TO READ TAROT. Call if interested in her next class. To learn more, email michelle.crandell@gmail.com, or call 501-655-6142.
