Every Deck Has a Spirit: My Journey to Understanding Tarot

When I first started learning tarot, I was buying every kind of deck I could find. I wanted to get it, so badly—like if I just had the “right” deck, the messages would come easier. But the truth is, no deck was ever going to do the work for me. That was something I had to grow into.

One of the first decks I bought was The Hoodoo Tarot, and whew… that deck was no joke. It was hard to read. I felt lost, intimidated, and like maybe I wasn't ready. But something in me wouldn’t let it go. I knew there was power there. I just wasn’t fully prepared to sit with it in the way it required. Now, almost four plus years later, that very same deck is one of the most powerful tools I have.

I learned over time that I dont “read” it in the traditional sense anymore—I listen and see the movement of the cards. The ancestors and spirit speaks through the cards, and I hear them clearly. It’s all intuitive now. I have learned over all this time to no overthink the message. I have learned to be more patient and to sit with them message that is being shown to me. That deck has become a sacred conversation between me and spirit.

Over time, I’ve come to realize that each tarot deck carries its own unique energy. The Rider-Waite is my go-to foundational deck—it’s like the language I learned first and still return to. But then there are specialty decks, each with their own vibe, frequency, and spiritual team attached to them.

Some decks deliver messages softly and gently, almost like a whisper. Others? They come in with sharp clarity, no sugar-coating. And some decks feel like they open a direct line to the ancestors, while others pull more from higher guides or elemental forces. It all depends on who is present and what the client needs in that moment.

When I prepare for a reading, I don’t always choose the deck—spirit does. The deck that spirit leads me to tells me everything about the kind of message that’s about to come through. Whether it’s nurturing, firm, ancestral, or deeply emotional, the deck sets the tone.

 I started off as the person who bought every tarot deck out of uncertainty. Now, I keep and work with decks based on energy, relationship, and respect. I’ve learned that it’s not about the most popular or prettiest deck—it’s about which one spirit wants to speak through today.