Why Is It So Hard to Learn to Read Tarot? ~ PART 5: Too many Artists, Decks, and New Designs.

At this point, I know what you’re thinking… how many reasons are there? 

But this is the last one I could think of... so far (if you have other reasons, drop them in the comments)

If you’ve been following the series, you already know tarot is not simple.

• In Part I: A Deep Dive into History Hidden in the Cards, we talked about the deep history behind the cards.
• In Part II: The Different Meanings of the Cards, we broke down why one card doesn’t equal one meaning.
• In Part III: Context and Card Combinations, we explored how cards change depending on context.
• And in Part IV: Tarot Flexibility and Adaptation to the Reader, we talked about how tarot even adapts to you as a reader.

Now let’s Get Goated and talk about something that most beginners don’t realize right away: Tarot is not standardized anymore.

In the past decades, there's been a surge in artists creating new tarot decks; it is estimated that between 500 and 1,000 new decks are released each year when combining major publishers and successful crowdfunding campaigns. And while that expansion of decks brought diversity, creativity, and beauty into the space, it also made learning tarot a lot more confusing than it used to be.

Tarot Wasn’t Always This Fragmented

Originally, tarot systems followed a more consistent symbolic structure. Back in the day, tarot students would usually learn from a limited number of decks, and those decks followed the same pattern and core meanings.

Decks like the Rider-Waite Tarot Deck were designed with intention, where every symbol, color, position, and detail had a purpose rooted in deeper traditions. 

The Rise of Modern Decks Changed the Game

But today, with the evolution of printing and independent artists creating their own tarot decks, we now have thousands of variations, which makes learning difficult. 

Now, the same card doesn’t always look the same. And in tarot, how something looks matters.

All these new, beautiful, more diverse, more expressive, and more creative Tarot Decks created a problem:

There is no longer one consistent visual language.

Now you have decks like the Light Seer’s Tarot, minimalist decks, abstract decks, aesthetic decks, themed decks… all representing the same 78 cards in completely different ways.

So what happens when the imagery changes? The meaning also changes.

In Tarot, Every Detail Matters

In tarot, nothing is random.

Color matters.
Posture matters.
Direction matters.
Symbols matter.
Background matters.

So when you change the art… you change the message.

Even Small Changes Can Shift Interpretation

And this doesn’t just happen between completely different decks.

It can happen within the same deck.

For example, one of my favorite versions of the Rider-Waite Tarot Deck is the Gold Foil edition, where the background colors are changed to gold. That sounds like a small aesthetic detail. But in tarot, color carries meaning.

As you can see in the X of Swords, the regular black clouds with the rising yellow of the background, that represent the end of the dark times, cannot be perceived in the Gold Foil Version. 

So, when you change the background color, you’re also subtly influencing how the card is interpreted. The feeling shifts. The emphasis changes. The message can be perceived differently.

And if that happens with just color… imagine what happens when the entire design changes.

When Aesthetic Overrides Symbolism

Some modern decks prioritize aesthetic over structure. They look amazing. They’re visually stunning. They attract people.

But sometimes they lack the deeper symbolic foundation on which traditional tarot is built.

And when that foundation is missing, the card becomes more open… but also more vague. That’s when tarot starts drifting away from being a system… and becomes more a visual language.

Why This Sends Beginners Back to Step One

Now imagine you’re learning tarot.

You study one deck. You start understanding the cards. You begin to feel confident. Then you pick up another deck…

And suddenly, things don’t feel the same.

Take The Fool as an example. In the Rider-Waite Tarot Deck, The Fool is stepping toward a cliff, with a dog, a bright sun, and a sense of innocence mixed with risk. Every detail contributes to the meaning of the card.

Now switch to a modern deck, like the Light Seer, where The Fool is just a girl holding a big crystal, and letting herself fall into the abyss.

It might still feel like The Fool… But it’s not saying the exact same thing anymore.

The symbols are different. The energy feels different. The meanings don’t land the same way. The Fool in the Raider-Waite represents a leap of faith, but being aware of the risks, while on the Light Seer, it represents trusting your intuition and letting yourself go. 

So you start questioning yourself.

“Wait… did I learn this wrong?”

No.

You just changed the language. That’s why it feels like starting over. Because in many ways, it is.

The Missing Piece: Understanding the Symbols in the Cards

If you only learn tarot by memorizing each card’s meaning, you’ll always feel dependent on the deck you’re using. Because what you’re really learning is the fixed interpretation of the card based on the specific symbolism used in that particular deck.

But if you learn to read the actual symbols and layers within the cards, you’ll be able to understand the message across different decks without feeling lost. 

Then, you’ll no longer be reading just the title of the card and assuming a meaning based on it; instead, you’ll read the real meaning expressed through its symbols, colors, positions, details, and elements.

Because learning tarot is not just about memorizing the meanings of 78 cards. It’s about learning the meanings behind the thousands, or even millions, of symbols and details that can be interpreted within those cards.

In many ways, it’s just like language. You don’t communicate by memorizing random words. You communicate by understanding what those words mean, how they connect, and how they change depending on context.

Tarot works the same way.

And when you finally begin to understand the symbolic language behind the cards instead of just memorizing interpretations… that’s when you become a Tarot GOAT.

Why This Is Another Reason People Choose Online Tarot Readings

At this point, it’s clear why learning tarot can feel like a lot.

It’s not just meanings.
It’s not just context.
It’s not just combinations.
It’s not just intuition.

It’s also navigating different decks, different symbols, and different interpretations.

That’s why many people choose to work with an experienced reader instead of trying to figure it all out alone.

When you book a professional online tarot reading, you’re not just getting someone who knows card meanings. You’re working with someone who understands the structure behind the cards, someone who can interpret beyond the artwork and give you a message that’s clear, grounded, and actually relevant to your life.

Ready to Experience Tarot Without the Confusion?

If you’ve been trying to learn tarot and feel overwhelmed, now you understand why.

And if you’d rather skip the frustration and receive a reading that’s already clear, aligned, and actually makes sense for your life, I’ve got you.

I offer online tarot readings and coaching sessions designed to help you gain clarity, understand your situation deeply, and move forward with confidence.

You don’t need to master every tarot deck out there.

You just need the right message at the right time.

🔮 Click here to book your online tarot reading and Get Goated with the message the Universe has for you.