Working Decks
Today I decided to share a few of my favorite modern working decks, why I like to use them, and present a new addition to my rotation.
Generally speaking, my reading decks tend to have one or more of the following qualities:
~ Narrative imagery – especially with traditional Tarot themes illustrated in a new way
~ Thoughtful use of symbolism
~ Roughly equal representation of males and females
~ Court cards that express defined personalities
The Wheel of the Year Tarot is an example of a deck with narrative style illustrations. It isn’t a Rider Waite clone, but the images are inspired by common interpretations of the Rider Waite. It’s a fresh angle that doesn’t stray so far from Tarot tradition that it feels more like an oracle. The court cards have a detailed setting, and the figures aren’t rigid and blank, which helps a lot with interpreting these often challenging cards. This deck is great for readings that incorporate visual details and card interactions.
The Night Sun Tarot is another one of my favorite decks to use. I like that it feels raw and masculine. It contains thoughtful recurring symbols that add a lot to a reading, especially if they pop up in several of the cards drawn. I like the straightforward, nearly terse manner of interpretation that this deck lends itself to. The court cards are also excellent and expressive. The Page of Swords has a bloody nose, and I feel like that really captures what a young, smart mouthed person is likely to experience. His expression of bold defiance makes it even better. I did a video review of this deck a few years ago – you can watch it here.
The Messenger Oracle is a go to deck if I want to deviate from Tarot or supplement a Tarot reading with an oracle card or two. Oracles with distinct card meanings that don’t feature an exclusively female cast are ones I usually use for readings, and the Messenger Oracle fits that description. I’m also fond of this deck because it’s one of the first oracles I read with and I love the images. It is one of Blue Angel’s earlier decks, and I think it’s one of their better ones because Phelan did both the artwork and the guidebook, so there isn’t a disconnect between the illustrations and the content of the book. The meanings for each card have some practicality to them, and while it’s still uplifting (as oracles tend to be), it contains less trendy “feel good” content that doesn’t always result in concrete interpretations.
A New Deck for the Rotation
I’ve had the Tarot of Eden for a few years and I’ve worked with it a couple of times. It has always felt like a “special” deck to me, though I can’t really pinpoint why. If I had to guess I would say that it’s because the illustrated cards tend to be either very beautiful or a little spooky, so I harbor this mix of awe and foreboding about it.
I want to work with Eden because it is a pip deck and I can try some different reading methods with it. I plan to use techniques for reading historical pip decks, and an intuitive approach that focuses on the color and mood of card groupings in a mandala type layout. The suits are strongly color coded, which is fantastic for this purpose, but the color choices deviate from my personal associations. I think it will be interesting to try to form some new perspectives, so I’m going to give it a shot and see how it goes. I plan to report my progress with these contrasting methods here. I’m still reading Caitlin Matthews book on working with vintage Tarots, so it may be a little while before I try the more traditional pip methods.
What are your favorite working decks? Are they similar to one another, or do you like to work with a variety of deck styles?
Like what you see?
Order the Wheel of the Year Tarot on Amazon here.
Order the Night Sun Tarot on Amazon here.
Order the Messenger Oracle on Amazon here.
The Tarot of Eden is out of print, and entries on Amazon are very expensive. If you are interested in owning a copy of this deck, it may be prudent to watch ebay for a good deal.
Purchasing any of these decks on Amazon via the links above supports me and my ability to provide information and resources on this website. Thank you!