A Quick Tour of My Favorite Tarot Decks

I received a couple of requests to share my favorite tarot decks. This feels like the right time to do that. Over the past few weeks, I have flipped through every single deck in my personal collection in order to gather inspiration for the one I’m creating. I want to get this out while those decks are fresh in my mind. I’ll share a more detailed update on my deck next month. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this quick tour of my five favorite tarot decks.

1. The Dragon Tarot by Terry Donaldson, Illustrated by Peter Pracownik

It would be hard to argue that The Dragon Tarot by Terry Donaldson is not my favorite deck. It is the only one I reach for on a regular basis. Although I have decks that are both prettier and easier to read, I would sell every one of them before I let go of this one. It has become a tool so familiar it feels like an extension of myself. It was the first deck I ever owned, the one I used when I was first learning to read tarot. For that purpose, it was more than good enough; but, over time, it became irreplaceable. It became my deck.

2. Shadowscapes Tarot by Stephanie Pui-Mun Law and Barbara Moore

Shadowscapes is a deck I initially purchased primarily for its art. The artist is also a musician and I deeply appreciate seeing so many musical instruments in a tarot deck. Shadowscapes is the only deck in my collection that I have sleeved and one of a very few for which I have purchased art books. I am grateful to Stephanie Law for including rough sketches and a discussion of her design process in The Art of Shadowscapes Tarot. Those art books are one reason I decided to share the process of creating my deck online.

3. Heartwood by Stephanie Burrows, Illustrated by Adam Oehlers

Would you like to explore an abandoned cottage in the forest? Reading with Heartwood is like walking into a story. A little mouse guides you through dusty rooms with peeling wallpaper and broken windows revealing a secret world full of life. The forest and its creatures have reclaimed the treasures humans left behind. At times cozy and at others creepy, this deck feels like an interactive fairy tale that asks where your heart is. What do you love and what holds you back?

4. The Children of Litha Tarot by Alexandria Huntington

For me, the primary appeal of The Children of Litha is its stunning illustrations that follow Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) symbolism. This is the first in a series of decks inspired by the Wheel of the Year. A neat feature of the series is the decks have identical backs, making it possible to customize your deck. The second deck in the series, The Children of Ostara, is also lovely and focuses on plant-based imagery. The artist is currently working on the third deck, The Children of Yule.

5. The Witch’s Cat Tarot by Tree Carr, Illustrated by Sonja Pröhl

Don’t let the whimsical illustrations fool you. This is a smart deck. The clever twists on the cards are fully explained in the guidebook, which is a joy to read assuming you aren’t put off by silly cat puns. The witches among you will appreciate that the guidebook includes correspondences and a spell for each of the Majors.

That’s the end of the tour. I hope you enjoyed seeing a few of my favorite decks. What are some of yours?