Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3500 in Books
• Published on: 1999-06-10
• Binding: Cards

From the Publisher
A.E. Waite was a celebrated writer on occult topics who first created his tarot pack in 1910, with cards designed by Pamela Colman according to his instructions. The 78-card deck is now almost certainly the most widely used in the world, and it remains as popular as ever. The Original Rider Waite Tarot Deck and the book The Key to the Tarot can also be purchased separately, and if you browse under "Tarot" you will find several other related Rider publications.

Customer Reviews

A classic, but you wonder why.
I've used this deck on and off for over 20 years and I still have an awkward relationship with it. I actually like the rather simple and dated art work and I want to connect with it, but there are so many faults and irritating images that I can't.

The problems:
The court cards are variable in the ease of interpretation.
The Wheel of Fortune has too much occult imagery
I don't agree with transposing Justice and Strength
It's too much influenced by the Order of the Golden Dawn - who tried to link too many systems together; a futile exercise which distorted the tarot to fit their ideas.
The little white book that comes with it is very poor.
Readings with this deck are often too vague and often just completely wrong; I find it hard to concentrate my intuitive faculties using it!

This deck influenced so many modern decks in the minor arcana, but has been surpassed. Sharman-Casselli, Morgan-Greer, Sheridan-Douglas, to name a few are much better. However, the best of all is the new Druidic Tarot which - despite the changes to some names - is superb and I cannot fault.

I dont believe in divination but still great
i bought my tarot cards not for 'divination' but because they can be a useful psychological tool to help you reflect and found the cards interesting and (at the risk of insulting those who claimed on other reports it worked) fun. The acompanying book was naff so i boughtThe Tarot Bible: The Definitive Guide to the Cards and Spreads (Godsfield Bible) (Paperback) which really catered for my lack of belief in the otherworldly crap - a great buy even if you're not on LSD

The definitive tarot deck 10/10
There never has been and there never will be a deck as good as this! I feel that the artist channelled these and they contain all the magic and answers you will ever need to learn tarot. I always teach people using these cards. love them or hate them they are the definitive tarot.I also use the Morgan Greer and if you are into numerology the Thoth is for you BUT there is only one Rider and it has been around so long for a very good reason, it is special!I taught Jane Goldman the tarot in her series Jane Goldman investigates and she got it straight away. I also use them in my dvd Tarot made easy.