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The Rider Waite Tarot Deck

By Craig Malone

Republish: EasyPublish™ Published: 16Jan2009 Word count: 515 Viewed: 162 time(s) Get Free Content For Your Site

Whenever you say tarot cards, you would in most cases find it means the Rider Waite tarot deck. This is because this is one of the most commonly used types of card decks. The history of using tarot cards may take you to ancient times, however the tarot cards as they are known today can be traced to the year 1910 when Arthur Edward Waite designed these with the help of a very talented illustrator named Pamela Colman Smith. While Waite was British, Smith was American at that time, Waite, who was a renowned publisher, also printed an excellent guide to help with the interpretation of this tarot deck titled, 'The Key to the Tarot.' This book has often been re-run and used by a slightly modified title, 'The Pictorial Key to the Tarot.'

This is a wonderful book for any tarot enthusiast because it assists you in every step while using tarot cards for a reading. Waite made a few changes when he designed this new set of cards. The Justice and Strength cards were interchanged so Justice read as card 11 while Strength reads as card 8; all the Minor Arcana cards, which previously only had their numbers and suit symbols inscribed on them, had pictures added by Waite and Smith creating a more interesting and in many ways, easier-to-read tarot deck.

You will find that this particular deck is not only the most popular found today, but also one that is most eloquent in readings. Owing to the beautiful scenes and symbols that Rider Waite and Pamela Smith introduced, each card becomes a miniature book for the diviner, who is able to read the symbols as they become apparent during a reading. The tarot deck, with the help of the key can encourage any amateur to want to learn more about this occult art. Each card has scenery, background and many symbols, which at first glance look child-like simple. On closer perusal, the details would literally unfold before your eyes the story of your subject.

Using tarot cards for divination by novices became apparently easier after this deck was issued. This is why this is one of the most popular versions of tarot cards used today throughout the world. A good number of the symbols that you would find on these cards are the result of the inspiration the authors drew from Eliphas Levi, who was during those time an extremely famous and successful occultist and magician. Fascinated by the signs this occult personality used and convinced that using tarot cards need more visual stimulation for a proper interpretation, Waite tried to make his tarot deck speak out eloquently with the help of color, scenes and symbols.

Owing to the popularity of the Waite tarot cards, many clones have found their way in this type of divination. Some of the better-known versions include the gilded tarot, the Aquarian tarot, the Universal Waite tarot, the Nigel Jackson tarot and the Golden tarot among others. Do not be fooled by the imitations. Use the original Rider Waite tarot deck.

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