Getting back into Tarot and need advice

Three things to actually look at, in order.

1. Start with Rider–Waite-Smith (RWS).
Every tarot meaning you'll meet in a book, app, or online guide is written for the RWS deck. If your deck deviates (Thoth, Marseille, modern art decks that rename or resymbol), you'll be translating constantly instead of reading. Returning to tarot after time away: pick RWS or RWS-based first, swap later if you want.

2. Hold the cards, not the box.
Online photos mislead. The question you actually need to answer in person:

• Cardstock — does it bend cleanly without creasing, or does it feel like it'll dent at the first riffle shuffle?
• Size — can you comfortably hold 5–10 cards in one hand and read the picture? Oversized = hard to handle; pocket-sized = tiny details lost.
• Finish — matte reads better under warm light and doesn't flash in your own eyes; glossy looks shiny but can slip and reflect glare.
• Borders — wide borders (3–5mm) protect the art and make shuffling easier; borderless decks feel artful but wear at the edges fast.

3. The "speaks to you" test is real, but narrow.
After you narrow to 2–3 RWS-based decks in your hand, *then* trust the gut: pick the one whose images you'd be willing to stare at for 20 minutes during a hard reading. That's the actual filter — not the box art, not the artist name, not a recommendation video.

Skip for now until you're back in rhythm: novelty decks, esoteric/complex decks (Thoth, Crowley-Harris), or anything that hides minors behind abstract art. Those reward long practice; right now you want the standard language in front of you.

A practical first move: order or visit a shop, narrow to 2–3 RWS-based decks, and riffle-shuffle each one for 30 seconds. The one that feels good in *your* hands is the one.

Want me to read the first card you draw on the new deck once you have it?