A Rider-Waite tarot reading is the gold standard of modern divination. If you think you’ve never seen tarot cards before, you’ve probably seen this deck. Created in 1909 by Arthur Edward Waite and illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith, the Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) tarot revolutionised how people read and understand the cards. It fundamentally reshaped the way people use the tarot deck.
The most groundbreaking feature of this deck was Smith’s decision to illustrate all 78 cards, including the Minor Arcana. Until then, most tarot decks used generic pip cards for the minors: just abstract arrangements of swords, cups, wands, or coins. The RWS deck changed that forever. By giving each card a narrative scene, Smith opened up new ways for readers to connect with the symbolism intuitively, without needing training in occult theory.
That visual clarity is one reason a Rider-Waite tarot reading is ideal for both beginners and experts. It’s straightforward, but not simplistic. Each card still holds layers of meaning rooted in Hermetic and Golden Dawn traditions. Behind the imagery is a hidden architecture of esoteric knowledge quietly embedded in scenes that look deceptively familiar.
Most modern tarot decks are direct descendants of this system. If you’re reading tarot today, you’re likely working within the framework Waite and Smith laid down. Whether you’re asking deep spiritual questions or just need insight into a day-to-day situation, this deck delivers precise, symbolic answers without requiring you to decode arcane diagrams.
Start your Rider-Waite tarot reading now and experience the deck that built modern tarot from the ground up.
