3 Must-Have Tarot Decks, pt1 -

Three decks essential to learn to speak tarot. Part of my #LearnToSpeakTarot series.
Smith-Waite Centennial Deck (US Games 2009): www.usgamesinc.com/Smith-Wait...
Morgan-Greer Tarot (first published 1979): www.usgamesinc.com/Morgan-Gre...
Aquarian Tarot (first published 1970): www.usgamesinc.com/Aquarian-t...
To book a Mindful Tarot session with me:
www.mind-now.com/mindfulness-i...

[@WhereAldersWhisper]

I love Aquarian, but Morgan Greer is my all time favourite, I had chills, when I first opened it. As to RWS, I'd personally go with something clearer, that fake ageing of Centennial looks nice, but maybe as an additional deck, for main I'd go either with early 70s bluebox (though harder to find, but it's possible to get it cheap sometimes) or I'd check one of the modern clean unfaded editions, there are a some videos, that compare them so even people new to tarot can find something available to them. As to WU, well, this deck is important to me, cause it started my tarot path, so I have it, but I can probably count on fingers of one hand all the times I've used it, so I wouldn't recommend it personally. For me, if I were to go with that idea of third wave of tarot revival of self-published decks going mainstream, I'd go with The Fountain Tarot. But if I were to choose my 3 must-haves, I'd say, a good clean RWS, a good Marseille deck to learn basics, and one deck, that really speaks to you, either because of artwork is in a style you like, or because it's curious, or because whole deck is very different, something that entices you and you want to work with it. :)

[@MindfulTarot]

This is great. I agree actually with everything you say (and for that reason, I can well imagine on a different day making a very different video). Yes, you might be right about having a "cleaner" RWS. I was looking for something that's easy to get, still in print, and has Pixie's calligraphy. My all-time favorite would probably be the 1970s or 1980s US Games yellow box... blue box is too speedy, but the 1980s decks can still be had for a good price on eBay. - I do think the Fountain is a little too "cool" for most readers, and also comes on the scene later. TWU really seems to me the breakthrough deck...

[@houseofhag]

Love that 'Golden Rule of Tarot' and wholeheartedly agree Lisa. Looking forward to this series xxx

[@tarotmap]

3 must have- Tarot de marseille- pick ur fave from Dodal, Millenium edition, Tarot de aux arcs :), RWS as in either Herzer's version or Spolia tarot, and Thoth. Im pretty traditional in the learning phase - you wanna speak tarot - grab the basics and then spread the wings and expand. Thank goddess we have many decks to choose from when it comes to the basics :) Fun!

[@MindfulTarot]

I talk about the TdM and Thoth in pt 2 of this video (so it's really 5 must-haves, but anchored in the innovations that Waite and Smith brought to these 78 pieces of cardboard).. Am totally in agreement with you about grabbing the basics... Thanks so much for watching, Kasia!!

[@Rosenliebe]

Love the idea of must-have-decks based on Tarot history/evolution and as I read in the comments the „missing“ TdM, GD/Thoth are coming in part 2. Thank you for sharing Lisa! X

[@IAM-jj9ev]

Just ordered the Wild Unknown deck. Thanks for recommending.

[@untamedarcana]

I love this! Thank you for sharing your thoughts💗

[@themoonchariot]

Love your thoughts here.

[@dr3ad1nside]

I really appreciate this video. As someone who's very much interested in the history and the evolution of tarot, it was nice to have this sort of timeline and examination of decks from different time periods and to have this explanation of how new things were brought to the table over the years.

[@VPitisci]

I like your choices! From one reader to another. - Best to you, Vincent

[@Laynasmuse]

I highly value your advice. Your wisdom, TRUE love , & passion shine through and is so contagious. Those are just some of the reasons why you’re my favorite.😌❤️ Funnily enough my very first tarot deck was the Wild Unknown, which I found while I was shopping on Free People’s website, I just loved the artwork, and this was probably 2013 or 14”. I had only had oracle decks up until that point. I’ve been kind of embarrassed to admit that it was my first deck, even though I really love it, I’m so happy you included it. I just now ordered the Aquarian tarot, I’ve been wanting it and you really just convinced me to go ahead and get it.

[@MindfulTarot]

Michelle Cooter ❤️thank you so much for watching! Let me know what you end up thinking about the Aquarian!

[@SanskritBlue]

BRILLIANT interpretation of these decks and their strengths in learning!!! This is such an exciting series! I need to take a leaf out of your book and go for more pith & keep it short. 🙏❤️

[@MindfulTarot]

Wow NaT-J - thank you so much for your kind words. Yeah, I'm trying to keep it short. We'll see how disciplined I remain!!! xoxo

[@melissagerber7231]

I have my old Albano Waite deck and just got Morgan Greer. I never cared mu c he for Aquarian

[@indrabar]

My first deck is similar to the Kim Krantz deck - it has no human figures and really focuses on the elements of the suits. I ended up getting a RWS deck later as I was getting into it and trying to learn more of the 'standard' imagery, but that more abstract, nature-focused deck is still my baby and my favorite.

[@weststartarot-Liz]

Great video!!!!!! At first I balked at the inclusion of TWU.... but once you made your point about the historical significance, I had to agree! Plus my daughter bought TWU deck and book for me when it first came out. She was in college ... a pretty expensive gift for a college kid... and sweetly thoughtful!!! So hey....

[@MindfulTarot]

Eliza West ❤️ha! Yeah lots of folks are gonna balk I’m sure... your daughter sounds awesome!

[@aquamarine18]

Yes! I was initially opposed to getting the RWS when I was first learning (that doesn't look like my world!!) but eventually changed my mind and am so so so glad I did; I now really love Pamela Colman Smith and her work dearly. Also love the Morgan Greer (my first tarot-in-a-tin). I don't have Aquarian or TWU... but I'd like Aquarian in a tin. Wild Unknown I'm constantly questioning whether or not to work with. I have the Animal Spirit Oracle and love it, and I see why people love TWU... but, I really seem to go back and forth on whether I feel drawn to it and I really, really don't like the renamed courts (I actually really like renaming courts to be more inclusive / gender neutral / non-monarchical... just specifically don't like these ones). I do get it as a transition-to-pips deck though (mine was perhaps Pagan Otherworlds).

[@MindfulTarot]

Thank you! Great response! - Pagan Otherworlds is awesome. A little more literal in its translation of RWS to pips than TWU and hence very easy to read, while still being abstract and geometric... xoxo

[@noracharles463]

These just happen to be my 3 favorites. Serendipity finding YOU! 🍁🍂

[@stevenmuir1934]

Very well explained -- thank you!

[@lindakingsley9486]

I like the Robert Hanson deck better. The Aquarian deck does not speak to me and as for Animal decks others speak to me more than the Wild Unknown. I have the Morgan Greer and love it.

[@Carocri31]

I had the Aquarian and the Morgan Greer long time before I bought the Smith Waite I still love them much more than RWS. love all your choices 😊

[@marieashworth5981]

You are good!

[@SortedSoul]

Great points and advice! There are so many decks to choose from these days. I like Pam's vintage tarot for some of the same reasons you state liking the Centennial. It is borderless with a slightly closer crop and had a very sepia tone to it. Also, the pips don't have any words or numbers written on them which I appreciate.

[@BookLioness]

Great video, thank you. The Aquarian almost looks art deco to me.

[@mariat9810]

I am a newbie to tarot and bought a few different decks to see what I connected with most but never felt "at home". My brother had the wild unknown which had never appealed to me at all until I laid my hands on them. Wow, I was shocked at how much I connected with them. I wanted to take them out everyday to read. I discovered I liked reading in an abstract way but with structure, through numbers and suits and the WU allowed me to tap into that. I love it so much!! Goes to show that sometimes what you think you are drawn to isn't always what you need. Thank you for making this video! X

[@MindfulTarot]

very interesting, Maria! Thanks so much for sharing!

[@kaede_jing]

I have centennial and Morgan Greer pocket edition~

[@christianjamesperalta6735]

I love all of your videos so informative💕🌷 We have the same must have tarot and my most favorite of all is The Wild Unknown Tarot Dect by Kim Krans.

[@cosmic.creeper]

My video isn't up anymore as I wanted to readjust it but I could totally see why you chose the four options. I suggested the rws and wild unknown, I don't have the other two (I feel like the only one at this stage lol). Even though I'm not a beginner I really enjoyed listening to your reasoning for your selections, you articulate them so wonderfully.

[@MindfulTarot]

Thank yo so much for writing! l really appreciate your perspective and support!!! xo

[@inkandflame]

Interesting choices! I was new to tarot in 2017, but by spring 2018 I recognized the significance of the TWU enough that I hunted down and bought a used first edition from ebay and a brand new second edition from a small online shop - both were out of print at the time - to have in my collection. (BTW, your video on spotting the differences between real and counterfeit TWU was very useful!) I have the Centennial (tin version), and it's my goal to add the Morgan-Greer this year (I'll likely start with mass produced and hunt for vintage later. ;)

[@MindfulTarot]

Thanks so much for watching! Eager to hear more about your tarot journey!

[@gayletheinquisitive2598]

I thought I would love the wild unknown but I can’t read it at all and have actually developed an aversion to it.

[@LucyLu_meztli]

Hi Lisa! I recently stumbled onto this video and funny enough I created a deck for a similar concept: #gamechangerDecks Totally agree on your input here, historic decks that are worth studying just for that fact. Thanks for making this video ❣️

[@LucyLu_meztli]

in case you are interested, here's the video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h5O4m4ttiZuDq7M

[@teatarot4557]

Thank you - nice video:-)

[@mika36s]

Me encanta escucharte aunque no entiendo una sola palabra de inglés, comprendí todo lo que ha dicho. Me falta el tercer musthave y voy a por él :)

[@straycat4427]

I agree with suggestions #1 and 2. # 3 I would change to a deck that speaks deeply to you. It's obviously a personal choice. I enjoy animal decks, but never connected with Wild Unknown. Part of the reason was simply overkill. I heard and saw it so much, it just killed any interest for me. Same thing with the Mary El tarot....got so sick of seeing it online. Hazards of watching alot of tarot vids! Ha!

[@MindfulTarot]

This makes sense. Thanks for writing!

[@kmcorby]

The big porn 'staches on many of the men of the Morgan-Greer give it that 70's feel. I have Both the Morgan-Greer and the Aquarian and they are some of my favorites I don't care for the Wild Unknown at all. Not a Thoth deck or a TdM?

[@ZarZarevitz]

I agree!!

[@carmmen1384]

Awesome video. I’m new to tarot and I am a fan of the RWS deck. Now the other deck I’m gonna have to look closely to it. Thanks.

[@MindfulTarot]

Carm Men thanks so much for your support and kind words!!

[@JamesHimmCoach33]

Enjoyed this video! One of my earliest decks was the Universal Waite, but I've come to love my Centennial Smith-Waite decks (I have the borderless edition and the one that comes in a tin). I also have both Morgan-Greer and Aquarian, and I call the Morgan-Greer my "up close and personal" deck; I find it great to use when you're exploring the relationship with yourself or with someone close to you. I really liked your thoughts on it. I don't have the Wild Unknown, so for me, my third would be my ISIS Tarot de Marseille or my Soprafino, because I'm into historical decks right now, and would fit with being able to work with pip decks. Will definitely be checking out future installments of this series! :-)

[@flowershopcassie]

#teammorgangreer but seriously, lovely advice. Can I get a part 2 of this?

[@MindfulTarot]

Lark Rhoades thanks for watching! Stay tuned...

[@flowershopcassie]

Yay!

[@MindfulTarot]

@@flowershopcassie It's up now! kzbin.info/www/bejne/mIfPg5-io5qSgrM

[@redforrori]

Gobsmacked by your third choice. I was expecting a TdM.

[@MindfulTarot]

Rori Rants haha!! it was originally 5 Favorites - TDM and Thoth in another video (spoiler alert)

[@redforrori]

@@MindfulTarot I just found it so interesting and refreshing. Although I've never gotten along with the WU (I have the 1st ed. so have had for ages), I'm all aboard for this series. Thank you!

[@ultravioletpisces3666]

@@MindfulTarot I thought the 3 would be RWS, thoth and TdM

[@fuumaxkamui]

My mind is kind of blown away right now because the first decks I bought when I began learning tarot were the RWS yellow box, Morgan Greer tarot, Mucha Tarot, and the wild unknown and animal spirit oracle decks. While I’m not necessarily in love with the wild unknown decks, not as much as everyone else seems to be, I have to say that I still agree with your choices.

[@MindfulTarot]

That's really cool! I don't own the Tarot Mucha but have considering buying it many times since it came out... I have the digital version of it now. Thanks for watching!!

[@meishot00]

I am one of few people that don't like Centennial Smith Waite decks, because of dark colors it feels like dark tarot deck and not vintage as it supposed to feel. Also the cardstock is too sturdy, when i use it a lot of the times my hands start to hurt a bit, especially whenever i am shuffling it.

[@ultravioletpisces3666]

Is there a part 2

[@8polyglot]

I would respectfully disagree on The Wild Unknown. I would proffer Pagan Otherworlds by Uusi as the poster child of the indie movement for the reason that from the outset, its production value was so, so high and well-executed. Was Wild Unknown a poor effort? Absolutely not. But Uusi is just another level in terms of intentional, quality reimagining of RWS in my opinion. I get the impression from Wild Unknown that Kim Kranz was going for a mass appeal and production, whereas I get the impression from Uusi that has significantly less marketing and distribution that Pagan Otherworlds was truly done for the sake of producing something fine with that being the only end goal. To me, that represents entirely the current indie tarot movement we’re seeing. Always love your videos, Lisa. Thank you.

[@lindakingsley9486]

The golden rule of Tarot is Tarot is not a toy. They are tools.

[@prophecyoflife]

Madam, i am very much interested to learn how to read tarot cards. Can u plz advise how could i? Or can u give some link?

[@carmmen1384]

By the way I had asked you a question on you RWS versions video but you never responded. Maybe you didn’t see it.

[@MindfulTarot]

Carm Men I’m sure I just missed it... do you remember what you asked? I’m so sorry! I sometimes lose track of these comments even though I’m SOOO grateful folks are watching and engaging with the vids!

[@carmmen1384]

@@MindfulTarot Yes it was about the 1980's RWS with the plaid backs. I have one just like yours but on your review I noticed the booklet you could of bought was $2 and mine says $1. My box doesnt have the copyright but the cards have the 1971 copyright. I was wondering if mine could be a 1980 deck.. It was your Vintage Comparisons: Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot Decks from '70s to 2016. 9/11/16 video . I hope this makes sense to you.

[@MindfulTarot]

Carm Men So I’m pretty sure what you’re looking at is a late 1980s deck. The copyright on the cards is misleading; once USGames starts putting the copyright on the cards (pretty much starting in the 1980s), they claim the copyright back to 1971.

[@carmmen1384]

Mindful Tarot thank you.

[@greenlimabean]

Why centennial and not radiant?

[@MindfulTarot]

Great question! Radiant is a re-drawing, and doesn’t even have the original calligraphy. Also, currently Radiant decks are being printed in Italy… And the card stock is just not as nice as the centennial in my opinion. Of course we are really talking about opinions here! I was aiming for a classic Waite Smith deck in a color palette and with the kind of card stock that most people seem to prefer. - So much for watching and for commenting! (Edited for thumb stroke typos!)