The Perfect Deck
The ideal deck does not exist and yet the quest for it can be a useful exercise because it provokes the Reader to reflect on their study of the Tarot.
For many Readers each new deck represents one step in the search for their ideal deck. But this is a project that is destined to fail (at least partially), in so far as perfection does not exist and the use of a deck depends on a moment in time and the Reader's experience and state of mind. Despite this, the desire for perfection can be positive as it prompts the Reader to keep learning.
Setting aside expectations and approaching new decks on their own terms will improve a Reader's chances of finding the right deck for the right time. The quest for perfection may lead the Reader in surprising directions.
Towards The Ideal
When they are trying to discover their own perfect deck, Readers might ask the following questions:
What illustrations would it feature?
Which numbering system does it use?
Do titles or keywords, if any, appear in the borders?
Which features does it borrow from existing decks?
What innovations might it introduce?
Which esoteric systems, books or philosophies would it be based upon?
This sort of inquiry, independently of any possible answers, can lead to interesting discussions and thoughts that all contribute to the Reader's development.
Two Decks
Before trying to establish the criteria for perfection, which will be subjective, it is very important that the Reader understands the mechanisms that lie beneath any reading. The reality is that every time someone reads the Tarot cards they are working with two different decks: the physical deck an the mental dck.
This means a reading is based in part on a real tangible deck (ie the physical deck) and in part on the image of the Tarot that the Reader holds in their own mind (the mental deck).
The Mental Deck
Before a Reader sets out to evaluate a new deck, first they must acknowledge the influence of an invisible and often overlooked system: the mental deck. The mind and heart of every Tarot Reader contain a mental Tarot deck. This is best described as a library of associations, expectations, insights an memories.
For beginners, it is frequently based on the deck they use most when they start studying the Tarot. For esotericists, it is often a deck reflecting their specific occult philosophical beliefs.
This mental deck need not be based on any one specific deck. It may be a composite deck featuring favourite cards from dozens of decks. The mental deck, while associated with card images, titles, Essential Meanings and Keywords stored in the memory, is supported by the framework of associations and experiences that are unique to every Tarot Reader.
For example, in one person's practice the Fool might come up repeatedly in association with moving from one city to another. To that particular Reader, the Fool becomes tightly linked with moving. In another person's practice, the same card may be linked to any number of other experiences. Each association contributes to your unique mental deck.
The Physical Deck
The mental deck will influence a Reader as they evaluate a new deck. Problems arise when it limits their ability to approach and appreciate new physical decks on their own terms. The physical deck is what you shuffle, use, touch and refer to when performing a reading. Every Tarot deck is a physical object: a printed, cut, laminated set of cards that reflects the efforts of writers, designers, artists and publishers. There are thousands of decks available, each reflecting themes, philosophies and the design decisions of their creators.
Readers who strongly prefer one deck or who ardently subscribe to one esoteric philosophy tend to disregard new decks. They may even view them as a source of frustration. The Reader who only accepts the red-robed Magician who points to the sky and ground, might take offence at a Magician cad featuring an illustration of a man in a business suit. He may look too ordinary to be inspirational. A Reader who believes the two monks at the feet of the Hierophant convey a secret doctrine might find a new deck depicting the Hierophant as an old man in a cave misguided or even offensive. Such reactions are all about the Reader rather than the deck under consideration. The expectation of what a deck should be is entirely dependent on an individual's mental deck.
Setting Expectations Aside
To approach a new deck on its own terms, the Reader must resist the urge to be dogmatic. There is no one correct way for decks to be illustrated, structured or organised. It benefits every Reader to investigate and appreciate the advantages and different features of new decks. However, this may take some effort. The Reader should be willing to embrace differences and consider the potential value of a new look, content to approaches. The Tarot deck reference pages on this site are a good source for learning more about the culture or philosophy behind a deck and the intentions of its designer. The Reader needs to go beyond emotional or gut reactions. They should allow themselves to be immersed in the world of the deck. Only then will they be able to judge it on its own merits.
The Quest
The first step in the quest for the perfect deck is identifying personal expectations, the mental deck. The second step is allowing those expectations to inform, while never limiting, the ability to assess a new deck. After taking these two steps, the Reader may ultimately reach the same conclusion shared by many other collectors, scholars and students; the perfect deck, instead of being one single dec, is whatever deck that best serves the Reader's purposes at a given time.
Personal Development
To grow, you must break down your mental walls and move beyond them. There is no perfect tool for every job but every job has one perfect tool.
Updated
29 January 2025 at 22:48:01
Reading Mentally and Physically
During a reading, an individual uses not only the physical deck in front of them but also their mental deck. Looking at the Emperor, for example, they won't just see the Emperor from that specific deck but also all the versions of that card from all the decks they've ever seen, combining their own memories with their current experience.
The Reader has to deal with the interaction between the physical and mental decks: the first lets them use their experience in the now, and the second transforms this into something different. In this interaction, the differences and similarities are equally important as they allow the Reader to maintain a fresh, creative approach to Tarot.