With the resurgence of all things gothic-inspired, mystical, witchy, and wonderful, it’s unsurprising that tarot – an intuitive form of fortune telling as told by a deck of special cards – is once again rising in popularity.
Popular Nineties and Noughties chick flicks such as Practical Magic and The Craft, as well as iconic shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Charmed touched on the strange magic. For us, the first exposure we had to tarot readings was in the iconic Lohan flick, Just My Luck. These wonderfully kooky films poke harmless fun at the very real practice, mastered by many across the globe.
In a recent interview with British Vogue while getting ready for a Christian Dior show, actor Maisie Williams revealed her personal favourite pre-fashion show ritual: a tarot card reading. According to Williams, who has been teaching herself tarot over the last four years, Christian Dior himself was a deep believer in tarot. The designer often had his cards read by the psychic Madame Delahaye prior to his shows.
Though it is a psychic skill that can be picked up by anyone who is spiritually minded, many are unaware of the history behind the practice.
What are the origins of tarot?
Tarot is no new thing. Indeed, according to an article by Tim Husband – an esteemed curator within The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Department of Medieval Art and The Cloisters –the earliest references to tarot all date back to the 1440s and 1450s and fall within four cities: Venice, Milan, Florence, and Urbino.
Husband explains that tarot was initially a simple card game of trick taking involving the original, standard Italian suits, alongside 21 trump cards and a fool. The present-day association of tarot with fortune-telling and the occult only gained popularity in the nineteenth century. Some sources credit the popularisation of tarot readings, or ‘cartomancy’ to Jean-Baptiste Alleiette in 1780s Paris, though the true origins are ultimately unclear.
What has now become a 78-card mystical deck is split into two distinct parts: The Major Arcana (major mysteries) which consists of 22 cards without suits, and The Minor Arcana (minor mysteries), which contains 56 cards divided into four suits, with 14 cards within each suit. The suits within the Minor Arcana usually follow the Italian tradition – Cups, Swords, Batons, and Coins.
How can I learn how to give tarot readings?
There are many online sources, including YouTube tutorials and blog posts created by experts, to help you along your tarot journey. Most starter tarot decks additionally come with instructional pamphlets which explain how to read the Major and Minor Arcanas with ease. Ultimately, as with every skill, it’s all about practice and letting your intuition take charge.
Light some incense, cleanse your chakras and see our round-up of the best mystical tarot decks below…
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Omni Tarot by Olivia M Healy, 78 Card Tarot Deck
At first glance, these minimalistic cool-toned designs look like miniature works of art in themselves. Designed by Olivia M Healy, this 78-card tarot deck nevertheless beautifully captures the meaning of each and every card within the Rider-Waite tarot system. The bold and modern deck draws inspiration from ancient and occult influences, as well as contemporary subcultures such as drag and fashion.
As with the vast majority of tarot decks on the market, this set has a particular focus and encouragement towards questions of identity, self-discovery, relationship to nature and the universe. Each card is 2.75 x 4.75 inches and printed on Blue Core 190gsm premium paper.
Buy now £45.00, Etsy
Tarot Deck Tarot of Light - 78 Tarot cards
This set was designed by artist Aitor Saraiba in collaboration with the Etsy shop FullMoonlightShadow. Named the ‘Tarot of Light’, the deck features an array of delicate watercolour and pencil drawings which explore themes of pain, trauma, memory, and reconciliation.
The fluidity of these designs inspires a certain feeling of surrender to the inner child. A powerful spiritual guide and source of energy, releasing and re-igniting your inner child is a wonderful way to spark your intuition.
With such a vast set of wonderful reviews, you can be sure you’re purchasing an incredibly special set of spiritual cards. Made in Spain, each card measures 2.44 x 4.60 inches and is printed on 330gsm laminated paper.
Buy now £27.74, Etsy
Tarot Deck Moon Magic Vintage Tarot cards with Guidebook
These vintage tarot cards are a treat to discover. A wonderful starter set for those just getting to grips with tarot, this deck comes with a 36-page guidebook. Featuring the designer’s signature aged effect, these modern cards somehow look like they were plucked from an ancient tomb. Printed on 300gsm paper, each card is 2.75 x 4.72 inches.
Buy now £26.33, Etsy
OK Tarot: The Simple Deck for Everyone - 78 tarot cards & 48pp guidebook
The absolute winner when it comes to starter tarot decks, this hand-drawn and pretty in pink deck features some beautifully simple illustrations by artist and author Adam J. Kurtz. If you’re looking to take the bells and whistles away from your practice, this playful and light set is your answer. Plus, it comes with a detailed 48-page guidebook written by the man himself featuring interpretation guides for each symbol. This is a deck full of hope, happiness, and good vibes only.
Buy now £19.98
Tattoo Tarot Journal By Diana McMahon Collis
This one is for the tattooed hipsters out there. Combine your two favourite artforms with this unique deck by Diana McMahon Collis. With an outer design that looks just like a standard deck of cards (only bigger) and some highly modernised renderings of the Major and Minor Arcana symbols in the American traditional tattoo style, this set would make a fantastic gift for your inked-up friend.
Buy now £17.00, Urban Outfitters
Ethereal Visions: An Illuminated Tarot Deck
Drawing inspiration from the Art Nouveau movement, this decadent illuminated set of tarot cards is hand-drawn and coloured. Created by Matt Hughes, we can’t help but compare the Ethereal Visions set to the original illuminated books of William Blake. The gold foil stamping truly brings these illustrations to life by adding a sense of depth to each card.
Hughes also designed two additional cards to supplement the Major Arcana, which you can use as part of your deck, or frame and hang on your wall. This set includes a 48-page booklet.
Buy now £23.00, Amazon
Vintage Tarot Deck
This vintage tarot deck reminds us of the kind of cards we saw in those Nineties and Noughties shows that we extolled earlier. A traditional Rider Waite deck in the original style, you can even choose the card that means most to you to decorate the laser etched wooden box which houses your set.
Buy now £14.99, Etsy
Green Blue Gold Tarot Deck 78 Cards
We absolutely adore these almost oceanic tarot designs, which seem to combine the Art Nouveau style with a more modern, metallic colourway. The golden foil design is far from subtle and makes the perfect companion deck for the maximalist psychic.
Buy now £45.18, Etsy
