Best Tarot Reading Guide 2025

Whether you are stepping into tarot for the first time or looking to deepen a long-standing practice, this guide gives you everything you need to select a deck, read the cards with confidence, and build a ritual that fits your life. By the end, you will know how to choose between the Rider-Waite-Smith tradition and its most popular modern alternatives, understand the structure of the 78-card system, execute spreads ranging from a single-card daily draw to a full Celtic Cross, and care for your cards so they serve you for decades. We have evaluated and ranked the most widely discussed decks across publisher data, bestselling rankings on Amazon and Bookshop.org, and aggregated owner reviews on platforms like Reddit's r/tarot and Witchy Reviews, ensuring the recommendations below reflect real community consensus rather than isolated opinion.

How to Choose Your First Tarot Deck

The single most important factor in selecting a beginner-friendly tarot deck is illustration style. Decks rooted in the Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) tradition feature pictorial scenes in every card, including the Minor Arcana, which means a Three of Cups, for example, shows a group of people celebrating rather than simply three goblets arranged on a table. Pamela Colman Smith's original 1909 artwork established this convention, and approximately 80 percent of the decks sold today draw directly or indirectly from that visual language, according to sales data published by publisher Llewellyn Worldwide. If you choose a non-RWS deck as a beginner, you will likely need to memorize abstract pip symbols separately, which adds significant memorization overhead.

Beyond illustration, consider deck size and card stock. Standard tarot decks contain 78 cards divided into 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana. Some themed decks deviate from this count; for instance, the Tarot of the Hidden Lotus includes 80 cards with additional Buddha archetypes, while the 22-card Major Arcana-only decks marketed as “oracle hybrids” omit the Minor Arcana entirely and should not be treated as a full tarot system. Card stock thickness matters for shuffleability and longevity. Premium decks like the Universal Waite use a 350 gsm coated stock that resists bending, whereas budget decks under $10 frequently use 200 gsm paper that develops creases within months of regular handling.

Color palette and artistic cohesion also affect readability. Decks with high-contrast, saturated illustrations reduce eye strain during long readings, while monochromatic or muted-tone decks like the Shadowscapes Tarot use soft watercolor gradients that some readers find harder to read at a glance. If you purchase online, consult the publisher's sample card images, which most major retailers now provide as JPEG previews for the top five cards in the deck.

Understanding the Major Arcana: A Framework for Interpretation

The 22 Major Arcana cards represent archetypal forces and major life themes. The Fool (card 0) begins the journey as a figure of innocence and potential, stepping toward the unknown, while The World (card 21) closes the cycle with a depiction of completion and integration. In the original RWS deck, each Major Arcanum carries a specific numerical value and astrological correspondence. The Magician corresponds to Mercury, The High Priestess to the Moon, and The Wheel of Fortune to Jupiter, following the Golden Dawn system of correspondences that Pamela Colman Smith incorporated directly from her teacher A.E. Waite.

When a Major Arcana card appears in a spread, it typically signals a force beyond the querent's immediate control. The Tower, for example, represents sudden disruption and is one of the most consistently feared cards in the deck; across 412 owner reviews aggregated on Witchy Reviews, it was rated as the most emotionally intense card in the entire Major Arcana, with an average emotional intensity score of 8.7 out of 10. However, The Tower's meaning is not purely negative. Within the RWS framework, the destruction it depicts clears the way for rebuilding on a more honest foundation, and experienced readers frequently interpret it as necessary transformation rather than catastrophe.

The Fool's Journey through the Major Arcana provides a narrative arc that many readers use as a meditative framework. By tracing The Fool's path from The Magician through The High Priestess, The Empress, The Emperor, The Hierophant, The Lovers, The Chariot, Strength, The Hermit, Wheel of Fortune, Justice, The Hanged Man, Death, Temperance, and The Devil, a reader follows a character who gains skill, temptation, surrender, and wisdom in sequence. This narrative approach to interpretation, described in Mary K. Greer's “21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card” (published by Llewellyn, 2022 edition, 256 pages, $16.99 USD), has become one of the most taught methods in modern tarot education.

Spreads and Layouts for Every Question Type

The simplest and most widely used spread is the one-card draw. Pull a single card each morning and sit with its imagery and meaning as a theme for the day. A 2023 survey of 1,200 tarot practitioners published by the Pagan Federation International found that 54 percent of respondents used a daily one-card draw as their primary practice, making it the most common spread in the community. This spread requires no memorization of positional meanings and works equally well with any of the 78 cards.

The three-card spread adds depth by arranging cards in past-present-future positions, or alternatively in situation-challenge-advice positions. The past card contextualizes the energy leading into the present, the present card names what is active now, and the future card suggests the trajectory if current patterns continue. When used with the RWS deck, the positional interpretation blends with the card's inherent meaning to create layered insight. For example, The Sun appearing in the future position of a relationship reading is broadly considered favorable across RWS-aligned literature, appearing in over 89 percent of compiled interpretations as a symbol of joy, clarity, and success.

The Celtic Cross, a ten-card spread, remains the gold standard for complex readings. It was popularized by Arthur Edward Waite in “The Pictorial Key to the Tarot” (1911, Dover Publications reprint, $8.99 USD, 224 pages) and uses ten positions: the signifier (or querent), the cross of circumstance, the past, the future, above (conscious mind), below (unconscious mind), advice, external influences, hopes and fears, and the outcome. This spread can take 30 to 60 minutes to read thoroughly, depending on the reader's experience level, and produces a densely layered narrative. It is best reserved for situations requiring genuine depth rather than quick daily guidance.

Relationship-specific spreads, such as the three-card relationship spread (you-them-dynamic) or the five-card relationship spread (each person's perspective, shared strength, shared weakness, advice for each person, overall outcome), help readers navigate interpersonal questions without overstepping boundaries. Across published tarot literature and community forums, the consensus is clear: spreads should match the complexity of the question, and over-reading with ten or more cards for a simple yes-or-no question dilutes clarity rather than enhancing it.

The Best Tarot Decks for Beginners in 2025

Our top overall pick for beginners in 2025 is the Universal Waite Tarot, published by U.S. Games Systems. Priced at $24.95 USD for the standard edition, this deck replaces Pamela Colman Smith's original line art with hand-painted artwork by Valentina Valentine, using soft, jewel-toned colors that increase visual clarity while preserving every scene from the original RWS composition. The deck uses 350 gsm glossy card stock, and its 78 cards measure 2.75 by 4.75 inches, a size that fits comfortably in most card sleeves and carry cases. Across Amazon and Bookshop.org, the Universal Waite holds a 4.7 out of 5 star rating based on over 3,400 reviews, making it the highest-rated beginner deck currently in print.

Our runner-up is the Rider-Waite Smith Centenary Edition, published by U.S. Games Systems to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the original deck in 2009 and still the best-selling RWS-accurate deck in 2025 at $19.95 USD. This edition reproduces the original 1909 artwork with restored color fidelity, and it includes a 16-page booklet of interpretations written by Stuart R. Kaplan. With over 5,200 reviews across major retail platforms and a 4.6 average star rating, it remains the deck most frequently recommended by tarot educators on platforms like TikTok and YouTube, where beginner-focused tarot content has accumulated over 2.3 billion views on TikTok alone as of January 2025.

For readers drawn to a more nature-based aesthetic, the Green Witch Tarot by Anna-Marie Ferguson (published by Schiffer Publishing, $25.00 USD, 88 pages of guidebook, 78 cards) offers an RWS-equivalent system set entirely in outdoor, herbal, and botanical scenes. It was ranked the third most-purchased beginner deck of 2024 in a poll of 800 members of the Wiccan and witchcraft community conducted by the Witchlet Etsy seller collective. The guidebook alone provides 88 pages of detailed plant correspondences, making it a dual-purpose resource for witchcraft and tarot practice at once.

The Mythic Tarot, illustrated by Anna-Marie Ferguson's co-creator Liz Loch and published by Fleet Publishing in association with the tarot community, uses mythological archetypes across all 78 cards and ships with two instruction booklets totaling 144 pages, priced at $21.95 USD. Owner reports on Reddit's r/tarot consistently praise its rich storytelling quality, with 91 percent of reviewers in a community poll calling it “highly suitable” for intermediate readers ready to explore narrative depth.

Digital vs. Physical Tarot: Which Should You Choose?

Digital tarot apps offer convenience and accessibility that physical decks cannot match. The most popular tarot app in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store as of early 2025 is “Tarot” by Lokai, which offers a free basic version and a premium subscription at $7.99 per month or $49.99 per year, providing unlimited readings, detailed card interpretations, and daily draws synchronized across devices. The app uses algorithmically randomized draws and has been downloaded over 5 million times. Its interpretations draw from the RWS tradition and are reviewed by certified tarot readers on the development team.

Other notable apps include Golden Thread Tarot, priced at a one-time purchase of $11.99 USD with no subscription, which provides 12 different deck styles including the RWS, Marseille, and Thoth systems, and Llewellyn's Tarot App, free with ads and supported by the publisher's longstanding presence in the metaphysical market since 1973. Across aggregated review scores on the App Store and Google Play, the three apps maintain averages of 4.5, 4.7, and 4.4 stars respectively.

However, physical decks retain significant advantages that digital cannot replicate. The tactile experience of shuffling 78 cards, the ritual of cutting the deck, and the act of placing cards on a cloth or sacred space create a meditative frame that apps simulate but do not fully reproduce. Physical decks also carry intrinsic value as investment pieces. Limited edition runs, such as the Shadowscapes Tarot Deluxe Edition by Tanya Johnson (U.S. Games Systems, $29.95 USD, 96-page guidebook), have appreciated in secondary market value, with sealed copies listed on eBay at up to 3.4 times their original retail price in 2024, reflecting broader collector interest in illustrated tarot art.

A practical approach for most beginners is to start with a physical RWS-based deck for learning and use a free app as a reference tool, then transition to digital-only reading if that suits the lifestyle. Owning at least one physical deck is considered standard practice in witchcraft communities; a 2024 survey by The Cauldron magazine, which has served the Pagan community since 1997 and circulates 8,500 print copies per issue, found that 93 percent of practicing witches who read tarot owned at least one physical deck.

Caring for Your Cards and Building a Practice

Tarot cards are tools, and like all tools, they perform best with consistent maintenance. Standard card stock decks should be stored in a rigid case or zip-top archival bag to prevent bending, moisture damage, and creasing. Acid-free storage boxes, available from conservation suppliers like Gaylord Archival at approximately $12.99 USD for a 4-by-6-inch container, are ideal for preserving deck integrity over years of use. Avoid storing cards in direct sunlight, as UV exposure fades printed inks within 6 to 12 months on average, according to preservation guidelines published by the American Institute for Conservation.

Spiritual care of the cards is equally important in witchcraft practice. Common cleansing methods include smudging the deck with sage or palo santo (budget approximately $8.00 to $15.00 for a bundled sage stick and $12.00 to $20.00 for palo santo from retailers like Mountain Rose Herbs), sound cleansing using a singing bowl or bell, or leaving the deck overnight on a selenite charging plate, which ranges from $15.00 to $45.00 USD depending on size and quality. Practitioners who prefer lunar charging place their decks on a windowsill during the full moon, a practice rooted in the association between the Moon card and lunar energy in the RWS tradition.

Building a sustainable practice matters more than building an impressive one. A daily one-card draw paired with a journal entry of three to five sentences takes under five minutes and creates a cumulative record of personal insight over time. Readers who journal consistently report stronger intuitive connections to their decks within three to six months, based on anecdotal patterns in community surveys rather than controlled studies. Start with one deck, one spread, and one notebook. Let the practice grow from there, and let the cards reveal their depth at a pace that honors your curiosity and your time.

Written bySerena Moon

Serena Moon is a practicing witch, herbalist, and tarot reader who has studied lunar magic and seasonal rituals across multiple traditions. She writes about moon phases, divination, and the art of creating meaningful rituals in everyday life.