If you're new to tarot, the variety of decks can be overwhelming. Yet, almost all modern decks trace their lineage back to one of three foundational systems: the Rider-Waite, the Thoth, and the Marseille. Understanding their differences is key to finding the deck that speaks to you. As Giles Link, I've worked with all three, and I find this comparison essential for students of the cards.
A Brief History & Core Philosophy
(15th-18th Century): This is the old soul. Originating in Europe centuries ago, its iconic woodcut style and traditional pip (numbered) cards make it the historical root of all modern tarot. It is a system of structure and numerology. The pip cards (Ace through Ten of each suit) are non-scenic, showing simply a repetition of the suit symbol (e.g., five swords crossed). The meaning comes from the number, the suit, and the reader's deep knowledge of traditional European symbolism. Interpretation is often more abstract, intuitive, and focused on the architecture of the deck itself.
Rider-Waite Tarot (1909)
This is the modern storyteller. Created by mystic A.E. Waite and artist Pamela Colman Smith (whose part-Ashkenazi Jewish heritage subtly influenced some symbols, as explored in my other writings), this deck revolutionized tarot. Smith illustrated every single card with a symbolic scene. The Five of Swords isn't just five swords; it shows a figure holding three swords with two discarded on the ground, suggesting conflict, defeat, or winning a hollow victory. This made the deck vastly more accessible. Its strength is in narrative and psychological depth, offering clear, relatable stories for each card. It's the deck I, Giles Link, most often use for personal reflection, as its archetypes feel most familiar and immediately resonant to my own intuitive language.
Thoth Tarot (Mid-20th Century)
This is the esoteric scholar. Designed by the controversial occultist Aleister Crowley and painted by Lady Frieda Harris, the Thoth deck is a dense, intricate system of astrology, alchemy, and Qabalah (a Western esoteric spelling of Kabbalah). Crowley sought to create a "book of wisdom" for the new Aeon. Its imagery is complex, psychedelic, and packed with layered symbols. The cards have renamed some Majors (e.g., "The Hierophant" becomes "The Priest," "Adjustment" replaces "Justice") and carry specific, often challenging, philosophical meanings defined by Crowley's writings. It is a deck for deep, ceremonial study.
Which Deck for Whom? Suggested Uses
Choose Marseille if: You are a traditionalist, love history, enjoy intuitive and numerological systems, or want to develop a reading style less dependent on illustrated cues. It's sharp, direct, and intellectually rewarding.
Choose Rider-Waite (or its clones) if: You are a beginner or most readers. You think in stories and relationships. You appreciate clear, symbolic art that guides interpretation. You want a versatile deck for everyday questions about life, relationships, and personal growth. Its spreads work universally.
Choose Thoth if: You are an experienced occult student, are drawn to Crowley's philosophy, or want to integrate astrology and deep Qabalah into your practice. It's powerful for transformative, spiritual, or highly analytical readings.
Do Spreads Transfer Between Decks?
Yes, and no. The basic structure of a spread—like the Celtic Cross—works with any deck because it asks fundamental questions (e.g., challenge, past influence, possible outcome). However, the interpretation will flow from the deck's unique language.
Using a Marseille deck in a Celtic Cross will give you answers based on elemental dignities (Fire, Water, Air, Earth of the suits) and numerology.
The same spread with a Rider-Waite will tell a more character-driven, situational story.
With the Thoth, the reading will tap into more cosmic, fateful, and transformative energies.
You can use any spread, but you must "speak the dialect" of the deck you're holding.
Table of Contrast & Similarities
In the end, the "best" deck is the one that forms a clear channel for your intuition. Whether drawn to the history of the Marseille, the stories of the Rider-Waite, or the depths of the Thoth, each offers a unique path to wisdom.