So many decks, so little time! How to choose? Discover your tarot type, and start casting spreads that speak straight to your spirit, says Haley ED Houseman.
With the explosion of new and evolved tarot decks, it’s easy to fall down a rabbit hole of gorgeous artwork and Insta-worthy spreads. But because the tarot works with your intuition, it’s important to work with designs that truly inspire, fascinate, and draw you in. Whether you’re a novice reader or a devoted collector, there’s a perfect deck (or decks!) for everyone.
Discover your tarot type below and start casting spreads that speak straight to your spirit…
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THE CLASSIC QUEEN
Tried and true, you’re drawn to sophisticated silhouettes, the timeless scent of Chanel No. 5, and upholding treasured traditions.
Your Dream Decks: Try the Rider-Waite Smith Deck’s foundational classicism, Morgan Greer Tarot’s visually expressive riff on the Rider, or best-selling Aquarian Tarot’s angular medieval imagery and muted hues.
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THE EARTH MAMA
You’re a rooted revolutionary with your hands in the dirt and your head in the stars. You love 60s & 70s bohemian looks, loads of crystals and, of course, all things herbalism.
Your Dream Decks: Try the plant lore of Leila + Olive’s Pythia Botantica Oracle, the organic, rounded shapes and holistic understanding of feminist classic The Motherpeace Tarot, and Mountain Dream Tarot’s vintage 70s vibes.
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THE NOW AGE MAVEN
On the cutting-edge of cosmic cool, you’re equally comfortable rocking up-to-the-minute fashions and getting deeply mystical, and your Now Age lifestyle demands a buzz-worthy deck.
Your Dream Decks: The “new wave” of tarot design focuses on pastels, geometrics, the fiercely feminine, and light work. Try the lush Fountain Tarot’s gentle geometrics and additional arcana, the goddess iconography and Art Nouveau revival style of the Serpentfire Deck, or The Starchild Tarot’s ethereal, Akashic imagery, and dreamy pastel palette.
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THE MINIMALISTA
You’re a stripped-down boss lady on-the-go who loves blazers and heels, and takes her cosmic inspiration with a shot of espresso.
Try Small Spells‘ black and white line drawings, The Dreslyn Deck’s clean aesthetic, or even Edward Gorey’s monochromatic Fantod Pack for a bit of macabre whimsy.
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THE HISTORIAN HONEY
You’re a slightly introverted intellectual who loves button-down blouses, the smell of old books, and binge watching “The Crown.”
Your Dream Decks: Try the romantic neoclassicism of The Tarot of Lombardy, Kanzanlar Tarot’s kaleidoscopic historical inspo, or the deeply decorative Byzantine Tarot’s ancient mosaic stylings.
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THE GLAMOUR PUSS
You’re an over-the-top, Old Hollywood siren who loves hedonistic glitz, and all things glittering and gold.
Your Dream Decks: Sample the languorous seduction of the Chelsea Lenormand oracle deck, the heavily-gilded Golden Thread Tarot, or Linestrider Tarot’s slightly more understated elegance.
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THE COLOR ADDICT
You’re a wild child, interstellar explorer drawn to psychedelic patterns and mind-altering experiences.
Your Dream Decks: Try the hyper-saturated rainbowed vision of the Oliver Hibert Deck, the wild animals and mythical beasts of the Ellis Deck, and the soon-to-launch Yoshi Yoshitani’s Fairytale Deck, which draws on magical stories from around the world.
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THE COSMIC CREATIVE
An artistic intuitive with iconoclastic impulses, you turn to the tarot to fuel your passion projects and might already be hard at work creating a deck of your own.
Your Dream Decks: Try Stretch Tarot’s mélange of vintage collage and mixed media, awaken the muses with the fantastical oil paintings of the Mary-El Tarot, and power up with Dust II Onyx’s latest, infused with modern black experiences, ancestor work, and African traditional art.
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THE WITCHY WOMAN
You’re a gothic guru who dives deep into the occult, revels in ritual, and isn’t afraid of blending her darkness with the light.
Your Dream Decks: Try the Iona Tarot’s complex intaglio printing style and high ceremony, the rich Haitian occult history of Alice Smeets’ Ghetto Tarot, and the elemental powers and ancient alchemy of The Order of the Golden Dawn- inspired Hermetic Tarot.
Haley ED Houseman is a freelance writer, illustrator, and tarot reader. Her focus is on the modern mystical, as well as art, fashion, and the natural world. She’s also the host of Occulture Talks, a monthly panel with occult experts in NYC. Sign up for her newsletter and follow her on Twitter for more musings.
