Cartomancy with the baraja española uses 40 cards; a tarot deck has 78 and 22 Major Arcana. The suits share names (bastos, copas, espadas, oros), so an illustrated tarot deck is the easiest next step.
If you want a scene on every card, Borderless Vintage Tarot, Light Edition carries Pamela Colman Smith's original 1909 illustrations, printed on white 350 gsm card with matte anti-scratch lamination.
Original 1909 art
A scene on every card
Borderless Vintage Tarot Cards — Light Edition, 1909 Classic Art
Borderless Vintage Tarot, Light Edition carries Pamela Colman Smith's original 1909 illustrations on white 350 gsm card with matte anti-scratch lamination.
View the Light EditionWhat a Spanish playing deck is and how it differs from tarot
The baraja española is a 40-card playing deck. It has four suits: oros (coins), copas (cups), espadas (swords) and bastos (batons). Each suit runs from 1 to 7 and continues with three court cards: the sota (10), the caballo (11) and the rey (12).
A tarot deck has 78 cards. That is 56 Minor Arcana in four suits and 22 Major Arcana, such as The Fool, Death or The Sun. Each tarot suit runs to 10 and adds four court cards: page, knight, queen and king. The Spanish deck has no queen and no Major Arcana.
| Feature | Spanish playing deck | Tarot |
|---|---|---|
| Number of cards | 40 | 78 |
| Suits | Oros, copas, espadas, bastos | Wands (batons in Marseille decks), cups, swords, pentacles (coins) |
| Numbers per suit | 1 to 7 | 1 to 10 |
| Court cards | Sota, caballo, rey | Page, knight, queen, king |
| Major Arcana | None | 22 |
| Usual use | Card games and cartomancy | Tarot reading and personal reflection |
Why the suits of the two decks look so alike
The tarot suits are wands (batons in Marseille decks), cups, swords and pentacles (coins). In Spanish they are bastos, copas, espadas and oros, the same names the Spanish playing deck uses. A reader who has used that deck all their life recognises the ground at once.
In tarot the suit tells half of the story. Wands speak of action and energy, cups of emotions, swords of ideas and conflict, and pentacles of material matters. This suit logic is the bridge between a playing deck and a tarot deck.
The suit logic helps; some things change: the sota is not a 10, and what each card means in cartomancy does not always match its tarot meaning. What is added is the 22 Major Arcana, the queens and the scenes, which give each reading more nuance and more questions to explore.
What cartomancy is and how it works with the Spanish playing deck
Cartomancy with the baraja española exists and has been practised for a long time. It is read through suit, number and the cards that fall together. The deck has only 40 cards and no Major Arcana, so a reading leans more on suit and number.
This guide does not repeat card-by-card meanings. For that, use the complete guide to tarot card meanings and the cartomancy chart for the 52-card deck, another playing deck that is also used for reading.
Some cards exist in both decks, such as the five of swords and the six of cups. In tarot, each has its own article: the five of swords and the six of cups.
How to move from the Spanish deck to tarot
The most comfortable route is an illustrated deck: all 78 cards carry a scene, even the small numbers, and that picture gives you a clue for reading from the very first spread. Decks with Pamela Colman Smith's original 1909 illustrations follow this model and keep the suit structure you already know, with the court cards and Major Arcana that the Spanish deck does not have.
To start on the right foot, everyone who buys a deck also gets a free four-book beginner course, available in your language (Spanish included). To see how learning goes step by step, read the article on a tarot deck with a free beginner course in Spanish.
Among the illustrated decks, Moon Magic Tarot is a lunar reinterpretation of the Pamela Colman Smith system that simplifies some classic images, on thick premium card with matte anti-scratch lamination. The cards measure about 7 by 12 cm (roughly 2.75 by 4.7 inches), and a printed guidebook covers all 78 cards.
Another illustrated deck
Moon Magic: a lunar reinterpretation of the classic system
Moon Magic Tarot Cards
Moon Magic Tarot is a lunar reinterpretation that simplifies some classic images, with matte anti-scratch lamination and a printed guidebook.
View Moon MagicThere is one more option for a reader who already knows they want symbol-only cards, with no scenes: a Marseille-tradition deck, whose number cards repeat the suit symbol just like the Spanish deck. It is not the deck we suggest for a first tarot, but if it appeals to you, our guide on how to choose and buy a Tarot de Marseille deck compares the editions.
What to check when you buy your first tarot deck
Readers coming from the Spanish deck often look at the price or the drawing first. There are other facts worth checking before you choose, and they work for any tarot deck from any shop.
- 78 cards: a complete tarot deck has 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana. If a deck has fewer cards, it is not a complete tarot.
- The picture on the cards: check whether every card carries a scene, the number cards included, or only symbols. For a first deck, a scene helps you remember a lot.
- Card stock and finish: the gsm figure tells you the thickness, and a matte lamination avoids glare while you read. An anti-scratch lamination protects the cards from rubbing when you shuffle.
- Size: about 7 by 12 cm (roughly 2.75 by 4.7 inches) is comfortable for medium hands; Spanish playing cards are often smaller, so shuffling a tarot deck takes a little practice.
- Guidebook and box: a printed guidebook and a box that closes well help you to start and to keep the deck in good order.
With these five points you can compare any deck fairly, even if you end up buying it elsewhere.
Which tarot deck to buy for your case
- You want to start with a scene on every card: Borderless Vintage Tarot Light Edition, with the free beginner course in your language (Spanish included).
- You are drawn to a theme, such as the moon: Moon Magic Tarot, a lunar reinterpretation that simplifies some classic images, with a printed guidebook.
- You want to begin with what you already know: practise first with the four suits of either deck and leave the Major Arcana for later.
- You already know you prefer symbols and numbers only: then a Marseille-tradition deck is a separate option.
Frequently asked questions
Can I read tarot with a Spanish playing deck?
No. In its most common version it has 40 cards and no Major Arcana, so you cannot lay out a tarot spread with it. It does work for cartomancy, which uses the suit and number of each card.
How many cards does the Spanish deck have, and how many does tarot have?
In its most common version, the Spanish deck has 40 cards: 1 to 7 plus sota, caballo and rey in four suits. A tarot deck has 78: 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana.
Are the suits of the Spanish deck the same as in tarot?
In essence, yes: bastos, copas, espadas and oros match wands (batons in Marseille decks), cups, swords and pentacles (coins). The names differ between decks, but it is the same suit.
Which tarot is best for someone coming from the Spanish deck?
An illustrated deck with a scene on every card, such as one with the 1909 illustrations. It is easier to learn, and the free beginner course in your language (Spanish included) goes with you from the first spread.
Do I need to know cartomancy to start with tarot?
No. Knowing how to read with the Spanish deck helps with suit logic, but tarot can be learned from zero. Every Dark Forest tarot deck includes a printed guidebook to start with.
When you are ready to choose, browse all Dark Forest tarot decks and pick the one that fits the way you read.
A full tarot course in English comes with every deck.
Includes a free full tarot course in English
Includes a free full tarot course in English
