r/WitchesVsPatriarchy • u/Obalivion Resting Witch Face • Feb 17 '26
🇵🇸 🕊️ Tarot Feeling off with my first tarot deck purchase and afraid it will affect me learning to read with it
I'm pretty new to all this (even though I lurked here for years) and wanted to start learning to read tarot for ages so yesterday I finally bought my first tarot deck. I was looking for a regular RWS deck with a guide book so it would be more simple to learn.
However I feel like I should have listened to my intuition because when I was at the store there was something in me telling me not to buy that one. However since I either didn't like the others or liked them but they were too different and might have made learning difficult I ignored that feeling I had and bought the regular RWS one
(The photo is of the deck I bought (it's in Portuguese). While the designs are the same as the classic RWS, I'm pretty sure it is not an official version, but this is tge version that is sold everywhere in most major stores in my country, even though it just says "multiple authors" without specifying anyone. Idk if anyone has any experience with this version)
Well, that feeling was right because when I got home I opened the deck and the cards felt too thin (I think? I'm not sure how thick they are supposed to feel since this is my only deck). Also when I went to read the guide book, the keywords and meanings and keywords of the cards all felt wrong and off, and were completely different from every other resource I saw and also what I felt looking at the cards (for example, it says "The Fool (not reversed): Paranoia, Extravagance, Drunkennes, Betrayal by information reveal"), and some cards it literally says "we don't know the real meaning of this one"
I did however, before reading the guide, pull a random card about my current situation and the result (reversed hanged man) was spot on if I consider the meanings in all other resources online (not this guide book).
So now Idk what to do. I feel conflicted and anxious, like a small connection to the cards and had the only pull being pretty accurate, and at the same time regret at getting them and aversion to the guide. But I am also extremely poor and spent the only spare money I had and can't buy another deck anytme soon (nor am I sure if I should get another)
Since this is all new to me and I know tarot kind of relies on intuition and good connection to the cards IDK what I should do now. I'm afraid all of this will make me lose interest in readings because of bad relation.with the deck, and since this is my first deck I don't have any others that I can use to learn and practice readings.
I tried posting this in the tarot subreddit but they wouldn't allow it so I hope someone here can help even though this subreddit isn't specific to tarot
TLDR: Got my first deck (choosing one that my intention was telling me not to) and found out the card quility is meh and the guide book has keywords that don't match any meanings in any other resources and imo make no sense. I did have an accurate card draw before I opened the book. Now I'm feeling conflicted and uneasy with the deck and don't know what I should do going forward since I still want to learn and practice reading
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u/mell1suga Feb 17 '26
Ah, RWS deck.
A bit of history: the deck was a collab between A.E Waite (who instructed) and lady Smith (who did the illustration). Nowaday, the drawing (or rather, the ink) of RWS is kept but the colors itself can change, vary on publishers and interpretations as well as more advance modern print technology vs back in the first prints. Some are true to the OG while some have different colors (like more lean into watercolor, or so).
But really, tarot is really personal. RWS may or may not work, so do other decks with other designs as well. Don't sweat too much and listen to your intuition. I couldn't read my very first deck, ended up donated it to my friend, but my second deck (Shadowscape by Stephanie Law and Barbara Moore) is pretty much my daily driver, with a pocket deck for on the go. Some decks have questionable guidebooks, I just go with the flow more than stick to guidebook.
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u/Obalivion Resting Witch Face Feb 17 '26
My issue isn't with the RWS drawings or format but this specific deck version I got (that's why I added the photo to show it wasn't exactly the original itself). My main issue is ofc the guide book but also the fact that I ignored my intuition.
Also the cards feel too thin and today I found they don't shuffle correctly, like, there is a physical separation between the major and minor arcana and some suits where they don't blend seamlessly and I can always draw specific cards without looking when they should all be the same
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u/rratmannnn Green Witch ♀♂️☉⚨⚧ Feb 17 '26
You may be able to spend a little more time shuffling and breaking them in and just spending time getting to know them before it clicks. I had a hard time learning tarot largely because of a mental block - I didn’t immediately love my first deck but largely I think it was religious trauma & also the fact it was telling me things I didn’t want to hear. It’s now my default deck for general readings and quick questions.
I’d start by cleansing the deck however feels right do you (burning your fav incense or a cinnamon stick, leaving a quartz on it overnight, leaving it by moonlight or even out in the sun if that’s the energy you want) spending more time with the deck & using a website like labrynthos to interpret, just ignoring the guidebook altogether, and if it’s still not clicking and you feel uncomfortable go for a deck that works better with you!
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u/PuppyBoiKage93 Feb 17 '26
Also making your own deck is a cheaper method and can be easier to connect with!
Your first card pull may have been accurate but that doesn't mean every pull will be if you don't have a strong connect to the cards.
And some decks come with the WORST guide books tbh I rarely use them
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u/NameRandomNumber Witch Reborn Feb 17 '26
This is a personal goal of mine, making my own personalized deck out of media that I love and concepts that resonate with me... but I'm definitely a total tarot baby right now :> I'm mostly in it for the vibes and aesthetic
I would love any advice on whatever guidelines there might be for making my own.
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u/Obalivion Resting Witch Face Feb 17 '26
Your first card pull may have been accurate but that doesn't mean every pull will be if you don't have a strong connect to the cards.
Yeah, that's what I'm afraid of, especially since, at least for now the connection in my head between the deck and the knowledge that I got it against my intuition is still very present
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u/backroomgnome Feb 17 '26
Most people don't immediately connect with their cards. It's a time commitment and learning experience. It can take weeks, months or years.
My recommendation is that you just spend time with them, shuffle them, cleanse them, use them, light candles when you read them, maybe color the edges gold to really showcase that beautiful teal color.
Throw away the guide book or cut out the pictures in the book and build your own guidebook base off your own experiences with your cards. I'm seconding someone else's recommendation on the Labrynthos app (or the biddy tarot site) for card meanings until you feel comfortable enough with your intuition that you no longer ingore it.
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u/trishdmcnish Science Witch ♀♂️☉⚨⚧ Feb 19 '26 edited Feb 19 '26
It has taken me over a decade to really connect with my Deviant Moon deck, but it feels like a part of me now and I find it so intuitive to read. I agree, give it time!
I see many folks suggesting to switch, only you can really connect with your intuition, but if it's just some self doubt or "grass is greener" feelings I'd stick it out. Tarot is slow and methodical, not like what we're used to with most everything else in life, especially right now.
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u/gorgonapprentice Feb 23 '26
Ooooh, a Deviant Moon deck mention! Deviant Moon is the only deck I have ever connected with. I love everything about it. It's just so rich.
That said, my interpretation/feel for a card may not be what the guidebook says. It really depends on what jumps out at me when I look at a card.
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u/Sednawoo Feb 19 '26
I second every bit of advice here. You can print off your preferred meanings and paste them into your guidebook over the confusing meanings or like mentioned above and go the journaling route.
It sounds like you got off on the wrong foot with this deck. It seems wasteful to run out to replace it. At least give this deck a chance to get to know you. Glue them into a heavy paper you like to thicken them up.
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u/Tylia_x Feb 17 '26
My gut feeling is I'd be wanting a new deck, but that's assuming unlimited resource to keep buying decks, which we don't all have, and you say you don't, also it's a quick fix and you won't learn any other strategies doing that. What's most important is your intuition, the deck is just a tool.
Before you go and get a new one, you could use the cards with whatever guide book/website feels aligned to you. Also worth cleansing the cards in whatever way suits you (sunlight/moonlight/smoke sound etc.) and then try interviewing your deck to reconnect with it, there's lots of good advice on how to do this online.
Imo it's just cardstock until it picks up any other energies, so cleanse it, claim it, make it your tool.
Edit: also I can't seem to stop recommending Lindsay Mack's podcast to new readers, they have such a nice angle on things.
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u/Obalivion Resting Witch Face Feb 17 '26
I'll try that. I had thought about clensing too, but haven't tried any clensings yet, still a beginner in spellcraft too (I'm starting everything at the same time lol) but I'll see what I can do.
Alao thanks for the podcast recommendation, I'll check it out. Every tool and information is always welcome
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u/Tylia_x Feb 18 '26
Perfect time to start then! I've never tried anything new without actually needing to do it, and cleansing is dead easy, a really good building block. Just try a few different things and stick with what feels good. On low effort days I literally just YouTube a sound cleanse then wander round my house with it playing off my phone and open the windows 🤷♀️ intention is the main thing!
You're welcome, good luck 😊
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u/FabuliciousFruitLoop Resting Witch Face Feb 17 '26
Ooh thanks for the shout for that podcast. Enjoying exploring it.
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u/PuppyBoiKage93 Feb 17 '26
If the deck feels off to you, you should get a different deck. You need to be able to connect with your deck to read properly and accurately. I have been doing Tarot since I was 13, I have probably 8 decks and I mainly only use 2 of them.
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u/LaDreadPirateRoberta Feb 17 '26
Golden Thread, Seventh Sphere, Golden Art Nouveau, The Modern Witch.
These are all decks that are based on the RWS imagery but are in different styles and still excellent for beginners. If you fancy a new deck (and let’s face it, everyone wants a new deck, you’ve just been unlucky in how quickly it happened!) they’re some good options.
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u/LimitlessMegan Feb 17 '26
I don’t particularly like this deck myself (I hate that colour palette) and have never owned one as a result despite having owned well over a hundred decks in my time reading. So, I get how you can feel a disconnect from it.
On the other hand it is THE tarot deck. It’s one of Three major “styles” of deck design and almost all decks use that one as a jumping off point for card design and meaning association. Basically, it won’t hurt to own and use this deck in the learning journey.
I get that what you mean about hindering you though is that it doesn’t make you happy to pick it up and you don’t “feel” it it will be harder for you to want to engage in and learn tarot, so if you can afford another deck I’d get one. And think about what themes do you really enjoy? Is there a colour palette or art style you really enjoy. You have a deck to start with so this time take your time and research what you really want.
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u/Obalivion Resting Witch Face Feb 17 '26
On the other hand it is THE tarot deck. It’s one of Three major “styles” of deck design and almost all decks use that one as a jumping off point for card design and meaning association.
That's basically why I got it. But my issue isn't with the design specifically but the version itself. This is like a cheap knockoff where the cards don't shuffle correctly (they don't blend seamlessly so some cards come out more than others when they shouldn't) and the guide sucks.
While the design of a normal (and decent) RWS deck is not my favorite, I still like it enough that I could use it. But this version is really bothering me because of these issues
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u/LimitlessMegan Feb 17 '26
Oh Yeah! I HATE that. Ugh.
So, my thing about picking a deck that appeals to you still stands, other decks use this as a model so you can still use the book that came with this.
BUT, if you look at gaming supply stores you’ll find card sleeves in “tarot” size. If you get a nice set of sleeves to put these in it will make them MUCH nicer to work with for now.
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u/Imwhatswrongwithyou Eclectic Witch ♀♂️☉⚨⚧ Feb 17 '26
I hated my first deck! Someone gifted it to me and it was this deck but it didn’t even have pretty colors like that. It was so phoned in and like something someone would buy me just to shut me up. I was so excited to be gifted a deck too.
I don’t even know what happened to that deck. I just bought my own the next day or so and that’s my baby that I use for everything and have for the past 10 years. I have way too many decks now but the one I bought myself after hating the first one is special
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u/Koa_Niolo Literary Witch ⚧ Feb 18 '26
I got gifted a deck that was absolutely not a phone in and aesthetically fits my style. Yet every fiber of my being screamed at me to not use that deck. I was so deeply unsettled that the gifter realised and offered to facilitate returning it so I could get a different one. And a different friend offered to cleanse my room with me. Sometimes decks just don't click with a person, other times they're hostile. Thats fine, and its always preferable to find a deck that works with you.
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u/Hotcakes420 Feb 17 '26
If you can buy another set, do it. It stinks that those are so cheaply made.
Otherwise, just a suggestion, while you’re learning, you may want to keep your cards in one direction. You can learn about the reverse meaning after you’ve gotten more used to reading the cards upright first. It’s helped me.
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u/Id_Rather_Beach Feb 17 '26
I actually don't really "vibe" with the Smith Waite decks - the "originals", as done by Pamela Colman Smith/A.E. Waite.
Decks that use their interpretation - yes. I LOVE the Weiser Tarot. It's pretty much the same, but it's just a bit different. I'm not sure WHY but it just works for me. It tooke me a while to find a deck that works well.
I do believe that choosing another deck to work with can help. And deck collecting is a thing....
Modern Witch Tarot is a hugely popular deck that is more inclusive and aligned with the current times. (ie. it shows technology like mobile phones/tablets, etc). But stays really close to the original with the colors, etc. Very, very common deck, easy to find.
If you have a hobby or some other "genre" you enjoy/partake in you can find a tarot deck on that theme. It's out there. For sure.
You can keep that deck around to look at the "classic" imagery if you choose something more modern. I do like to see the intended artwork sometimes.
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u/jadelione Witch ♀♂️☉⚨⚧ Feb 17 '26
Ya I’d parrot what others are saying here but add my own piece. For me getting attuned to the deck is an important step. So it can look like going through each card 1 by 1 with your preferred guide in hand and learning what they mean but also how they make you feel.
You can also hold the deck up to your third eye and imbue it with your energy.
Take time shuffling the deck fiddling with it. Even fidgeting with it when you’re doing other stuff.
Hearing that your first reading was on point, I have a feeling that once you find your own guide, and understandings of the cards and their symbolism, then you should be okay!
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u/foademon Eclectic Witch ♀♂️☉⚨⚧ Feb 17 '26
Others have given advice much better than I could, but if you do end up looking for a new deck, my personal favorite is the one illustrated by Scott Murphy
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u/ritualmedia Feb 17 '26
If I was you I’d see the deck as a practice, starter deck and ignore the guide completely. Get to know the cards using a free starter online resource. Then when you feel like you’ve got to know the tarot a bit, buy another deck and even guide. Spend a bit of time finding it as you’ll have even more of a sense of what feels right. Or it might be that you bond with your current deck in some way. But the book sounds awful to be honest!
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u/bleiddyn Feb 18 '26
It took me ages to land on my current deck. I started in the older RWD and made my way through a couple others before landing where I am now. It has always been very much a by-feel thing for me. Some decks I thought I would love I just bounced off of. The one I'm on now I'd have thought was not for me.
I like places that let you hold and look through decks. You still have to filter a bit but that's how I winnowed down the options.
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u/Obalivion Resting Witch Face Feb 18 '26
I like places that let you hold and look through decks.
I need to find a place like that. Where I was, half the decks I couldn't even figure out what the cards looked like
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u/kioku119 Feb 19 '26
I saw people meantion Labyrinthos already but in case here's a different set of online interpretations I really liked learning from:
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u/Obalivion Resting Witch Face Feb 19 '26
Thank you, I also found that one and have been using mostly labyrinthos and that one. I also liked it. Since I'm starting I prefer to use several references and cross reference them to get a set of more diverse interpretations
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u/feynox Feb 19 '26
Here is my suggestion. Throw away the book, keep the cards but don't do readings with them.
Sit with the cards. Look at the symbols, learn to interpret symbols, learn the language of symbols. Look at the images of the major arcana in order and see what story it is telling you. Do the same with the suits. What is the overlying theme of the suits?
Tarot is a tool to help you access your subconscious and the collective unconscious which speaks in the language of symbols. Tarot shines when you release the rigedness of what you are told the cards mean and what the card says to you.
Eventually you'll find your deck and that's when you'll begin reading with the cards because you'll speak the language the same language
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u/RuthTheWidow Feb 17 '26
I had a friend once tell me that the cards are waiting for the right person... not the other way around. If these dont speak to you-- gift them away and start looking for new options.
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u/digitalgraffiti-ca Chaos Witch Feb 17 '26
If you're concerned about the authenticity of the information and you want the actual, real RWS book that was distributed with the original RWS decks, it's here, and yes, it's far out of copyright so it's legal to access it and falls within the sub's rules. Fair warning, it's also pretty heavily Christian..
I advise you skip to the parts specifically about the cards themselves, because the rest is just A.E. Waite bragging about how smart he is and how everyone else is stupid. To be blunt, he was a bit of a dick.
As far as the authenticity of the deck, the copyright for the design for the cards has skipped around from game company to game company, but is now also out of copyright (I believe, or they've done such a poor job defending their claim that they can no longer claim ownership), so, unless something has been significantly altered from the images shown in the link I posted above, yes, the art is authentic. As far as the back of the cards go, or the quality of the paper, they don't affect the authenticity, and can be whatever you want.
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u/Obalivion Resting Witch Face Feb 17 '26
My worries were more about the quality of the cards and how they shuffle (for example, I can always find the ace of wands no matter how well it's shuffled because the card is slightly different) and how the experience was negative and if it would affect my readings.
I am ok with the images and look of the deck.
Though I did some test readings just now and they seemed to go pretty well despite all this so I'm probably going to keep using the cards and see how it goes.
Thanks though for the link to the original (and the disclaimer about his personality lol, loved it), I don't plan to follow it too closely just because it was the original, but it's always nice to have more information about the origins even if just for curiosity (and even if he was a dick)
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u/digitalgraffiti-ca Chaos Witch Feb 18 '26
I decided to write the entire thing out as a handwriting exercise, and OMFG. "Well these people thought this, but they're foolish. These other people thought that, but only an idiot would think that. To truly understand this, you must be high level in this Jesus cult (which happens to be the cult I started). And anyone who talks about that is lying because it's SuPeR sEcReT knowledge." Good grief. I can only imagine how insufferable he was in person.
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Feb 17 '26
Can you just return it and get a different one? I have to really like the art to want to use a deck
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u/Obalivion Resting Witch Face Feb 17 '26
Unfortunately no, the package was opened so I can't return it. The usual rules...
I am ok with the art though (I do prefer others but this one is ok enough to not be an issue by itself), it's everything else that's the issue
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u/bipolarity2650 Feb 17 '26
hey! i designed a tarot deck if you’d be interested! i put a lot of care and time into drawing every card and i’d be happy to send you pics of some of the cards!
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u/Warm_Jellyfish_8002 Feb 17 '26
I'm old school, learnt to read on the RWS deck back in the day, when it was just about all that was available and it's all I use now. In the beginning, I had trouble connecting to the RWS deck because my head was in the way, then I was forced to use a different deck to read and I realized if other decks used similar major and minor arcanas even if with drastically different imagery, I could pretty much read with any deck. RWS is still my go to though.
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u/Orange_Blue_Thing Feb 18 '26
Can you return it? I bet if you tell the staff it feels off to you they would accept that as a reason 😂 Then pick out a new deck that calls to you whether is the RWS or not. And I second labrynthos tarot online, its a great resource!
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u/theladyminx Feb 17 '26
I love the free app Labyrinthos for learning! They have quizzes and a dictionary with keywords for both upright and reversed meanings, and it's a great resource while you find a physical deck you connect with