Which tarot deck should a beginner choose? Compare seven criteria: the language of the meanings, whether they sit on the card or elsewhere, scenes on the 56 minor arcana, a booklet, a course, a widespread system and a complete 78-card deck. To learn alone in French, keep the meaning in front of you; for tradition, choose Marseille.
Which criteria should you compare?
In France, "jeu de tarot" first means a deck of playing cards. This page is about the divinatory tarot, a tool for reflection, not a prediction. A useful comparison does not rank decks from best to worst; it gives you a grid. Our guide to tarot decks for beginners gives the short version of it.
- Language of the meaning: is it written in French?
- Place of the meaning: on the card, in a booklet or in a book?
- Scenes on the 56 minor arcana: does each card tell something?
- Booklet and course: is there an order to follow?
- Widespread system: will you find books and videos?
- Complete deck: are all 78 cards there?
How do the main deck types compare?
A Marseille deck (many are based on Nicolas Conver's 1760 pattern) has no scenes on the numbered cards and usually no meaning printed on them, but a long French tradition. A 1909-system deck, illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith, has a scene on every minor arcana and the most resources, many of them in English. The same system with printed meanings puts the text on the card, at the risk of reading it before the image. The Thoth deck (Aleister Crowley and Lady Frieda Harris, 1969) is richer and more esoteric. An oracle is not a tarot: its author sets the cards and themes.
Where does our deck fit?
Our deck uses the 1909 system with the meaning printed on each card. It has 78 cards, a printed French booklet in the box and a full French course in four books, received after purchase by a personal link. The French-language learning deck suits readers who want to read the image and the text on the card; if you want the Marseille tradition, choose a Marseille deck and a good French book instead.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best tarot deck for a beginner?
There is no single answer; it depends on your goal. To learn alone in French, choose a deck whose meaning is in front of you. For tradition, choose a Marseille deck with a good book.
Is a Marseille tarot harder than an illustrated one?
Often, at first. The numbered cards have no scene, so you read them through numbers and symbols. The learning is longer, but it suits readers who like structure.
Can you learn tarot with an oracle deck?
You can practise drawing cards and reflecting, but not learn tarot. An oracle has no major or minor arcana, so tarot courses do not apply.
Does a 32-card deck replace a tarot?
No. It is a playing-card deck that follows another system. To learn divinatory tarot you need 78 cards.
