Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot: Revolutionary Symbolism (1909)
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BY NICOLE LAU
In 1909, a collaboration between occultist Arthur Edward Waite and artist Pamela Colman Smith created the most influential tarot deck in history. The Rider-Waite-Smith deck (named for publisher Rider, designer Waite, and artist Smith) revolutionized tarot by fully illustrating all 78 cards, making symbolic meanings accessible to everyone. This deck became the template for thousands of modern decks and remains the world's bestselling tarot.
The Creators
Arthur Edward Waite (1857-1942): Scholar, mystic, and member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. Waite designed the deck's symbolic system, drawing on Kabbalah, astrology, and Western esotericism.
Pamela Colman Smith (1878-1951): Artist, illustrator, and Golden Dawn initiate. "Pixie" Smith created all 78 card illustrations in just six months, working from Waite's instructions and her own intuitive vision.
William Rider & Son: The London publisher who commissioned and distributed the deck, giving it the "Rider" name.
The Revolution: Illustrated Minor Arcana
Before RWS, most tarot decks (including Marseille) showed only suit symbols on Minor Arcana - three swords, five cups, ten wands. Smith illustrated every card with a scene depicting its meaning.
Examples:
- Three of Swords: A heart pierced by three swords (heartbreak)
- Ten of Cups: A family under a rainbow (happiness, fulfillment)
- Five of Pentacles: Two figures in snow outside a church (hardship, exclusion)
This made tarot accessible to beginners who could read the pictures intuitively, without memorizing abstract meanings.
Golden Dawn Influence
The deck encoded Golden Dawn's esoteric system:
Kabbalistic Correspondences: Each card linked to paths on the Tree of Life.
Astrological Associations: Cards connected to planets, signs, and decans.
Elemental Attributions: Suits corresponded to fire, water, air, earth.
Symbolic Details: Colors, numbers, gestures all carried esoteric meaning.
Key Innovations
Strength and Justice Switched: RWS placed Strength at VIII and Justice at XI (reversing traditional order) to align with astrological correspondences.
Accessible Symbolism: While deeply esoteric, the imagery was clear enough for intuitive reading.
Psychological Depth: Smith's illustrations captured emotional and psychological states, making the deck perfect for self-reflection.
Pamela's Artistic Vision
Smith brought her own genius to the work:
Art Nouveau Style: Flowing lines, medieval aesthetic, theatrical staging.
Emotional Expression: Figures show clear emotions - joy, sorrow, contemplation.
Narrative Scenes: Each card tells a story you can enter imaginatively.
Universal Archetypes: The imagery transcends specific cultures, speaking to human experience.
The Tragedy: Pamela's Erasure
Despite creating the artwork, Pamela Colman Smith received only a flat fee (£50) and no royalties. For decades, the deck was called simply "Rider-Waite," erasing her contribution. Only recently has "Smith" been added, recognizing her as the true artist.
Smith died in poverty in 1951, never knowing her work would become the world's most popular tarot deck.
The Impact
RWS transformed tarot:
Democratization: Anyone could learn tarot from the pictures.
Standardization: RWS became the default, the deck beginners start with.
Template: Thousands of modern decks follow RWS structure and imagery.
Psychological Tool: The illustrated minors made tarot perfect for therapy and self-exploration.
Modern Variations
Countless decks are "RWS-based":
- Universal Waite (recolored by Mary Hanson-Roberts)
- Radiant Rider-Waite (vibrant colors)
- Modern Witch Tarot (contemporary diverse reimagining)
- Countless indie decks following RWS structure
Bringing RWS Into Your Practice
Start Here: If you're new to tarot, RWS or an RWS-based deck is the perfect beginning.
Study the Symbols: Every detail matters - colors, numbers, gestures, backgrounds.
Honor Pamela: Remember the artist who created these images. Her vision made tarot accessible.
Create Sacred Space: Display RWS imagery with our Tarot Tapestries. Use Ritual Candles to honor this revolutionary deck.
The Legacy
115 years later, RWS remains tarot's foundation. Pamela Colman Smith's illustrations are the images most people see when they think "tarot." Her six months of work in 1909 shaped a century of spiritual practice.
The deck that was revolutionary is now traditional. The innovation became the standard. And Pamela's art continues to guide millions toward self-knowledge and intuitive wisdom.
From Pixie's brush to the world. The revolution continues.
As you continue to walk with these archetypes, perhaps you will find that the Tarot Journaling Prompts open new layers of meaning, or that the The 52-Week Tarot Journey deepens your year of reflection. The 30-Day Tarot Practice Workbook is a beautiful way to build a daily conversation with the cards, while the Shadow Work Tarot invites you into the internal locus Smith’s images so naturally reveal. And for those drawn to the esoteric roots Waite encoded, Jung and the Archetype traces that same bridge between the unconscious and the stars.
