My go-to oracle and tarot decks

When I first started learning tarot in earnest, I was excited to explore the wide variety of decks out there. I learned with the Radiant Smith Rider Waite, as many of us do. But the more I learned, the more I wanted to try other decks, and there are so many! There's a deck for every interest, I swear.

So how do I choose?

As I looked for my next decks, I quickly became overwhelmed. A lot of them were pretty enough, but well, I'm a Libra rising, so hellooo, indecision! It's hard to choose. I fell for the narrative that I would "just know" the right deck when I saw it or, worse yet, that a deck would "choose me." I was able to find a couple of decks that way, but I felt a little lost.

Adding to my confusion is that I try to be a responsible consumer and practitioner. I want to use decks that align with my values, such as feminism, anti-racism, anti-colonialism, etc. If I am purchasing those decks (as opposed to them being gifted for inclusion in my work), this becomes even more important to me.

Under racial capitalism, money is power. Since I don't have much of it to spare, I want to ensure that my money represents my values whenever possible. However, I can't do that without a little research first. And unfortunately, when I looked for the most popular decks online, I realized that I didn't really like or resonate with many of them.

Appropriation

I found a lot of decks to be appropriative of other cultures and traditions. There are lots of decks out there, created by white people, that use Indigenous imagery, talk of other cultures' traditions, and are otherwise full of stereotypical representations of women, the elderly, and Black and Brown folks. Anything focused on "spirit guides" or "shamanism" is a big no for me, thanks. Unless they are created by Indigenous people, I'm not interested.

An aside to my fellow white tarot friends: not everything is for us. Before you get upset, keep reading.

When I say I look for authentic decks created by folks within that community (think "Own Voices" but for decks), that doesn't mean I am the intended audience. If something is out of my tradition or experience, I may not understand all the nuances. What's more, I may be doing a disservice to clients by using those decks without being fully aware of the ramifications. Being a critical thinker means you need to be reflective about these issues. (Keep reading...)

While most decks are created for anyone to use, others have varying levels of messaging and wisdom intended for folks within that community. That's okay! Because not everything has to be for us. If I find a deck I love but realize I may not be the intended user, I buy it anyway to support the creator(s) and show the community that these decks are needed and wanted. I may never use the deck with clients, but I can read the guidebook, learn, ask questions, do more research, admire the deck, and suggest it to others.

Woo-woo and whimsy

Some decks that may not be racially or culturally problematic are sometimes just too stereotypical for me. This is where I battle with the concept of "woo-woo."

Not all of us who subscribe to or practice astrology, tarot, or magic(k) are flighty, new-age flower children, nor are we old, hunched-over, eccentric crones. I will admit that we probably all know someone who really looks or acts that way, especially fakers on YouTube, but it's certainly not all of us.

I reject the idea that you have to look, talk, or act a certain way as an astrologer or tarot reader. I hate that we're stereotyped in this way, but I also hate that sometimes those stereotypes are rooted in a bit of truth. Some of this may even be projection, but I digress. I can already tell that this will be a whole separate post, so I won't belabor the point. I'm just saying that I, too, struggle with decks (and practitioners) who are really over the top in the woo-woo way, and I'm still trying to figure this out.

Now, before you come at me, I don't hate all decks created by white folks, and I don't hate practitioners who are more woo-woo than me! I know I'm judging here and that all of us love some deck that others dislike or that are more stereotypically whimsical than others, myself included. (For me, that one is Keepers of the Light by Kyle Gray. I really don't know why I like it so much... I think it's because it was one of the first oracle decks I saw someone use, and so I am more nostalgic or sentimental about it.) None of us is perfect or 100% consistent 100% of the time; sometimes, you like what you like, but when we know better, we do better.

So, no, really, then how do I choose?

I know, I know, some of you just want a cute deck and may not be working with clients or just want to dip your toe into the tarot pool. I get that. Do you!

If you are someone who will be purchasing multiple decks or who wants to explore offering tarot readings to others, you may want to see your choices as investing in your future. In that case, I implore you to take your time, do your research, and think critically about the tools you use in your practice, especially your decks.

Typically, I am even more particular about the decks I use than I am about the books I read. I ask lots of questions, do my research, and choose decks based on their creator, themes, and quality, as well as my intuition.

Here are my suggestions:

1. Tarot reader, know thyself.

Most of us know what we like or dislike, but what are your values? Are you a feminist? An environmentalist? Knowing what you value should drive your choices of decks (and, well, everything). Perhaps you only purchase decks by queer creators or ones that are printed with recycled materials and don't use plastic wrapping.

Also, ask yourself: What kinds of creators do you want to support? Whose traditions are represented by this deck? What messages do you want to send to your clients with the decks you use?

2. Google is your friend.

Search for the deck's creator, illustrator, and publisher. Find out who they are, what their values are, what they support, etc. Look at their social media and websites. This information can be hard to find, and sometimes, your favorites will disappoint you or make missteps even after you've vetted them. Do your best to make informed decisions that you can stand behind.

You can also try searching for the top feminist decks, eco-friendly decks, or decks by women of color, etc. You might also find reviews or "unboxing" videos to get a better idea of a deck's look or quality.

3. Support your community.

Follow other practitioners and creators. What decks are they using? Is one of your favorite tarot readers publishing a deck? If you can, get it directly from them, the publisher, or your local indie store. If they are writing a book, preorder it! These things really make a difference.

I also periodically check out Kickstarter for folks raising funds to make their own dream decks. New creators need help to get their decks published, and I've been lucky enough to find some stunning, high-quality decks this way.

4. Keep an open mind and experiment.

Some decks you'll try and like, others will fall short. Sometimes, you'll fall for one that you thought you'd never use – but what a nice surprise that can be.

Likewise, sometimes we do our due diligence but still miss something. It's frustrating, but be open to listening to others who have different experiences and perspectives from yours. And dear readers, let me know if I'm including anything here that made you think twice; I want to investigate if I've made a mistake! Don't let me go on supporting a TERF or something...

5. Do you, but do it responsibly.

In the end, each reader should choose the decks they think will be a good fit. You might be attracted to the illustrations or the theme. Maybe it's a creator you're already familiar with. But whatever the initial spark is, I encourage you to dig deeper before purchasing.

I hope you will join me in demanding more from deck creators and no longer condoning the appropriation of cultures and traditions that are not ours to exploit. We must move our tarot practices and the field forward by supporting and rewarding authenticity, inclusivity, and sovereignty.

If any of this resonates with you, read on because I am sharing some of my go-to oracle and tarot decks below. Sign up for a free or paid account to get the recs!

Feel free to let me know which ones I've missed that are your favorites; goddess knows, I'm always looking for more.