So You Want to Learn Tarot? Here’s Where I’d Start.

Melanie Shirley
Feb 20
3 min read

I get this question a lot.

Someone feels curious. They’ve had a reading. Or they’ve been circling tarot for years. Or they’ve pulled a card or two from an old deck and thought, Wait… what is this?

If you’re just getting started, here are some of the books, decks, and resources that have shaped me — and that I still recommend.

This isn’t an exhaustive list. It’s just what I personally return to.

And before we dive in, let me say this clearly:

You do not need to know everything to begin. You do not need to memorize meanings. And using the guidebook is not cheating.

Tarot is not a test. It’s a relationship.

The cards are the guide. You just have to be open to what they’re showing you.

Start Here: A Foundational Book

Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom by Rachel Pollack

If you’re going to buy one tarot book, this is the one.

It’s built around the Rider-Waite-Smith tradition and walks through every card in depth. It’s thoughtful, symbolic, psychological, and grounded in tarot as a path of self-awareness.

If you don’t already have a deck, I recommend starting with the Rider-Waite-Smith system. I personally love:

Universal Waite Tarot

Same imagery as the traditional deck, but the coloring is softer and more approachable. It just feels gentler in your hands.

If You Love Jung…

Jung and Tarot by Sallie Nichols

If you’re into Jung, archetypes, and the process of individuation, this book is a gem.

It focuses on the Major Arcana and approaches the tarot as an archetypal journey. It’s more niche, but if you already speak Jungian, you’ll appreciate how deeply it goes.

If You’re Curious About the Thoth Deck

The Tarot Handbook by Angeles Arrien

This book is based on the Thoth deck, which was actually the first deck I ever bought. The Thoth imagery can feel darker and more intense, but it’s powerful and layered.

I don’t use it as often anymore, but I still pull it out sometimes. This handbook is a solid reference if that system calls to you.

A Creative Way to Learn the Cards

The Tarot Coloring Book by Theresa Reed

If you learn best by doing, this is such a fun option.

Theresa Reed (The Tarot Lady) includes information on every card, and the coloring process invites you to slow down and really study the imagery. I love the idea of learning the cards this way — through your hands and your own creative interpretation.

You can also follow her at The Tarot Lady. She offers classes and sends out helpful, practical emails.

My Favorite Modern Decks

The Light Seer’s Tarot by Chris-Anne

This is one of my current favorites.

The artwork is modern, vibrant, intuitive, and still rich with symbolism. It’s very accessible while remaining layered and meaningful.

There’s a companion guidebook (small print — bring your readers if you’re over 40 like me), and Chris-Anne also offers an expanded PDF guide if you show proof of purchase.

I love this deck. It feels alive.

And I also really love:

The Gentle Tarot by Mari in the Sky

The Gentle Tarot is rooted in nature, animals, and earth-based wisdom. It feels calm, grounding, and deeply intuitive. If you’re someone who connects more easily to natural imagery than traditional medieval symbolism, this deck might speak to you right away.

Other Decks I Love

Motherpeace Tarot - my main deck for 15 years!

This deck has a full-size companion book that is fantastic. It approaches tarot through a goddess-centered lens and uses round cards, which actually changes how you experience spreads. It’s powerful and different.

The Wheel of Change Tarot

I think it was out of print but may be back? You can also find it secondhand. It’s beautiful and symbolically rich.