When people talk about tarot, chances are — they’re picturing the Rider Waite Tarot Deck: a classic through my eyes, and through the eyes of countless seekers across generations. With its bold imagery, intuitive symbolism, and deep roots in Western mysticism, this deck has become the gold standard in modern tarot.
And for good reason.
Whether you’re pulling your very first card, teaching others, or deepening your relationship with the divine, this is the deck that most of us begin with — and many of us come back to, again and again.
It includes everything a beginner needs — structure, storytelling, visual symbolism — while offering layers of meaning that even the most seasoned intuitive will continue to uncover.
But for me, this deck didn’t just teach me how to read tarot.
It opened a portal.
A Little History
The Rider Waite Tarot Deck — or more accurately, the Rider–Waite–Smith Tarot — was first published in 1909 by the Rider Company. It was conceptualized by Arthur Edward Waite and brought to life through the visionary artwork of Pamela Colman Smith — a woman of Jamaican and British descent whose intuitive gift infused the entire deck with emotion and magic.
Pamela was the first to create full scenes on every card, not just the majors — a revolutionary decision that gave the tarot voice, story, and spiritual personality.
This deck became the blueprint for most modern tarot systems.
In many ways, it is the grandmother of them all.
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When the Rider Waite Tarot Deck Found Me
Before I share anything else, let me say this:
I am an intuitive, a spiritualist, a writer, and an oracular astrologer.
I’ve always been connected to the divine, always heard the subtle whispers that guide, protect, and teach.
But the day I touched the Rider Waite deck for the first time — something changed.
It felt like… like I’d just been handed a new sense.
Like someone had finally turned on the volume to a frequency I had been reaching for my entire life.
Have you ever seen those emotional videos of babies on Facebook or YouTube — the ones where a child who has never heard sound receives a hearing aid for the first time?
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At first, they’re fussy, confused, unaware of what’s happening.
But the moment they hear their parent’s voice — really hear it — they freeze.
Their entire face shifts.
There’s this wide-eyed stillness… and then comes the smile.
The quiet, glowing recognition.
That’s what happened to me with tarot.
The cards didn’t just lay there. They spoke.
They shimmered with clarity.
They weren’t showing me “the future” — they were reminding me of what my soul already knew, but hadn’t fully seen until now.
It was as if I had been watching the world in black and white, and suddenly, someone handed me color.
I was not just holding paper.
I was holding conversation — with my guides, with the universe, with myself.
This is the kind of resonance that the Rider Waite Tarot Deck can unlock — especially when the soul is ready.
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The Mood of This Deck
Vibe: Symbolic, foundational, classic, slightly mystical but grounded
Energy: Like a wise elder. Direct but not cold. Deeply honest without being unkind
It doesn’t sparkle with modern embellishments — but it glows with ancient clarity.
Best For:
- Beginners learning tarot structure
- Students in certification or mentorship
- Intuitive readers who need visual storytelling
- Teachers guiding others
- Shadow work & journaling reflections
If you’re just starting out, this deck is the classroom and the teacher.
If you’ve been reading for years, it’s the wise ancestor you return to.
My Experience With This Deck
After that first connection, I spent months working only with this deck.
I journaled with it. Slept beside it. Pulled cards in silence and let them sit with me, sometimes for days.
And it never once gave me fluff.
This deck became my mirror. It showed me patterns I was too polite to admit to myself. It told me where I was playing small, and where I needed to let go.
And the best part? It always left space for me to decide.
It never imposed. It simply revealed.
Standout Features
- Classic, story-rich imagery
- Intuitive structure for learning
- Abundance of free + published resources
- Teaches numerology, elements, and traditional symbolism
- Available in many styles: original, radiant, vintage, borderless
Things to Be Aware Of
- The artwork may feel outdated or non-inclusive for some
- Some scenes feel rigid or Eurocentric (though the symbols still hold power)
- If aesthetics are key, consider alternatives like Smith-Waite Centennial or Modern Witch Tarot
But if you’re here for energy over trend — this deck still speaks.
Final Thoughts: The Classic That Awakens
This deck wasn’t just a starting point.
For me, it was an awakening.
An activation.
A sacred yes.
It reminded me that my intuition is not separate from the divine — it is the divine.
And tarot? It’s just the microphone.
So if you’re wondering whether the Rider Waite Tarot is too “basic” — let me assure you: there is nothing basic about the first time you truly hear your own soul speak back to you.
That’s what this deck offers.
A beginning that feels like coming home.
