Rider Waite Smith Tarot: Why It's the Gold Standard

Introduction: The Deck That Changed Everything

Walk into any metaphysical shop, open any tarot book, search "tarot" on Google Images. What do you see?

The Fool stepping off a cliff. The Lovers standing beneath an angel. Three swords piercing a heart.

These images are so iconic, so deeply embedded in our collective consciousness, that we forget: they're only 115 years old.

Before 1909, tarot looked completely different. Then came the Rider-Waite-Smith deck—and tarot was never the same.

This isn't just "a good beginner deck." This is the deck that defined modern tarot. The foundation. The blueprint. The gold standard.

But why? What makes this particular deck so special that it's still the most recommended, most studied, most influential tarot deck over a century later?

Let's find out.

The Revolutionary Trio: Waite, Smith, and Rider

Arthur Edward Waite: The Visionary

Arthur Edward Waite was a scholar, mystic, and member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn—a secret society dedicated to occult study. He had a vision: create a tarot deck that was both esoteric (symbolically deep) and accessible (visually clear).

Previous decks were either:

• Too obscure: Occult decks filled with symbols only initiates understood
• Too simple: Playing card-style decks with no imagery on the Minor Arcana

Waite wanted something in between—a deck that could teach, guide, and reveal without requiring years of secret study.

Pamela Colman Smith: The Artist Who Made It Real

Here's the part most people don't know: Pamela Colman Smith created the imagery, not Arthur Waite.

Waite gave her instructions and symbolic guidelines, but Smith—a talented artist, synesthete, and fellow Golden Dawn member—brought the cards to life. She drew all 78 cards in just six months, working from Waite's notes and her own intuitive vision.

Her revolutionary contribution? She put full scenes on every single Minor Arcana card.

Before RWS, Minor Arcana cards (like the Three of Cups or Seven of Swords) were just pips—three cups, seven swords, no story. Smith gave each card a narrative scene, making them readable without memorization.

This was groundbreaking. And it's why we call it the Rider-Waite-Smith deck (or just Smith-Waite, to honor her properly).

William Rider & Son: The Publisher

The "Rider" in Rider-Waite-Smith is the publishing company that printed and distributed the deck in 1909. They made it accessible to the masses—and the rest is history.

What Makes RWS the Gold Standard?

1. Every Card Tells a Story

The RWS deck was the first to give all 78 cards full pictorial scenes. This means:

• You can interpret cards intuitively by looking at the imagery
• You don't need to memorize abstract meanings
• The cards speak to you visually, not just symbolically

Example: The Three of Swords shows three swords piercing a heart under a stormy sky. You don't need a book to understand: heartbreak, pain, difficult truth.

This visual storytelling is why RWS is so beginner-friendly—and why it remains powerful for advanced readers.

2. Rich, Layered Symbolism

While the imagery is accessible, it's also deep. Waite and Smith embedded layers of esoteric symbolism:

• Kabbalistic: Tree of Life correspondences
• Astrological: Planetary and zodiac associations
• Alchemical: Transformation and spiritual evolution
• Christian mysticism: Biblical and angelic imagery
• Elemental: Fire, water, air, earth symbolism

You can read RWS at a surface level ("The Fool is about new beginnings") or dive into decades of study ("The Fool represents the soul's journey from Kether to Malkuth").

It grows with you.

3. The Foundation for Modern Tarot

An estimated 80-90% of modern tarot decks are based on the RWS system. This means:

• The card order is the same
• The symbolism is similar or directly referenced
• The interpretations are rooted in RWS meanings

Learn RWS, and you can read:

• Modern Witch Tarot
• Light Seer's Tarot
• Wild Unknown (with some variations)
• Mystic Mondays
• And hundreds of others

It's the Rosetta Stone of tarot.

4. Unmatched Learning Resources

Because RWS is the standard, there are:

• Thousands of books written specifically about it
• Countless online courses, apps, and websites (Biddy Tarot, Labyrinthos, etc.)
• YouTube channels, podcasts, and communities dedicated to RWS study
• Universal guidebooks that assume you're using RWS

No other deck has this level of support. If you get stuck on a card, you can find 50 different interpretations with a quick search.

5. Timeless, Universal Imagery

The RWS deck doesn't rely on trendy aesthetics or cultural specificity. The imagery is:

• Archetypal: Universal human experiences (love, loss, triumph, struggle)
• Symbolic: Speaks to the subconscious, not just the conscious mind
• Timeless: Relevant in 1909, relevant in 2025

While the art style is dated, the themes are eternal.

6. Proven Track Record

Over 100 years. Millions of readers. Countless accurate readings.

The RWS deck has worked for generations of readers. It's not just theory—it's been tested and proven in real-world practice.

The Symbolism System: A Deeper Look

The Major Arcana: The Fool's Journey

The 22 Major Arcana cards tell the story of spiritual evolution—from The Fool (innocence, new beginnings) to The World (completion, wholeness).

This narrative structure is one of RWS's greatest contributions. It's not just 22 random cards—it's a journey.

The Minor Arcana: Everyday Life

The 56 Minor Arcana cards are divided into four suits, each representing a different aspect of life:

Wands (Fire): Passion, creativity, action, ambition

Cups (Water): Emotions, relationships, intuition, love

Swords (Air): Thoughts, communication, conflict, truth

Pentacles (Earth): Material world, money, health, work

Each suit follows a numerical progression (Ace through Ten) and includes four Court Cards (Page, Knight, Queen, King).

The Court Cards: People and Personalities

The Court Cards can represent:

• Actual people in your life
• Aspects of yourself
• Energies or approaches to a situation

RWS Court Cards are detailed enough to give personality clues but universal enough to apply broadly.

Versions of the Rider-Waite-Smith Deck

Over the years, several versions of the RWS deck have been published. Here are the main ones:

Original Rider-Waite (1909)

• Pros: Historical, authentic
• Cons: Colors are muted and muddy; harder to see details

Universal Waite (1990)

• Pros: Recolored by Mary Hanson-Roberts with brighter, clearer colors; same imagery
• Cons: Some purists prefer the original
• Verdict: Best version for most beginners

Radiant Rider-Waite (2003)

• Pros: Vibrant, saturated colors; very eye-catching
• Cons: Some find the colors too bright or artificial

Smith-Waite Centennial Edition (2009)

• Pros: Honors Pamela Colman Smith by name; high-quality printing
• Cons: Uses original muted colors

Borderless Rider-Waite

• Pros: No borders, just the art; modern, clean look
• Cons: Loses some of the traditional feel

Recommendation: For beginners, the Universal Waite is the sweet spot—traditional imagery with clear, readable colors.

Criticisms of the RWS Deck (And Why It's Still Worth It)

Criticism 1: The Art Feels Dated

Fair point. The art style is over 100 years old. It's not going to look like a modern Instagram aesthetic.

Counterpoint: The timeless quality is part of its power. And if you want modern art with RWS structure, there are hundreds of decks (Modern Witch, Light Seer's, etc.).

Criticism 2: Lack of Diversity

Fair point. The deck was created in 1909 England. The figures are predominantly white and European.

Counterpoint: Many modern RWS-based decks (Modern Witch, Spacious Tarot, etc.) address this with diverse, inclusive imagery while keeping the RWS structure.

Criticism 3: Christian/Western Bias

Fair point. The symbolism is rooted in Western esotericism, Christianity, and Kabbalah.

Counterpoint: The archetypes are universal, even if the imagery is culturally specific. And decks like Tarot of the Divine offer global perspectives.

Criticism 4: Some Cards Are Scary

Fair point. The Tower, Death, Ten of Swords—these cards can be intimidating.

Counterpoint: Tarot isn't all love and light. The challenging cards teach the most important lessons. And they're not as scary as they look once you understand them.

Why You Should Learn RWS (Even If You Use Another Deck)

Even if you fall in love with a different deck, learning RWS first gives you:

1. A solid foundation: You'll understand the structure and symbolism that most decks are based on
2. Transferable skills: You can pick up almost any deck and read it
3. Access to resources: Most tarot books and courses assume RWS knowledge
4. A common language: You can communicate with other readers using shared symbolism
5. Depth: RWS has been studied for over a century—there's always more to learn

Think of RWS as learning classical music before jazz, or studying Shakespeare before modern poetry. It's the foundation.

How to Get the Most Out of Your RWS Deck

1. Study One Card at a Time

Don't try to memorize all 78 cards at once. Pick one card per day or week. Meditate on it, journal about it, notice when it shows up in readings.

2. Use Multiple Resources

Read what different authors say about the same card. You'll find common threads and unique insights.

Recommended books:

• The Ultimate Guide to Tarot by Liz Dean
• Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom by Rachel Pollack
• The Pictorial Key to the Tarot by A.E. Waite (the original guidebook)

3. Practice Daily Draws

Pull one card each morning and see how it relates to your day. This builds intuitive connection faster than any book.

4. Join a Community

Reddit's r/tarot, Instagram tarot communities, local tarot meetups—learning with others accelerates your growth.

5. Trust Your Intuition

The guidebook meanings are a starting point, not a rulebook. If a card speaks to you differently, honor that.

The Legacy: Why RWS Will Never Be Replaced

New tarot decks are published every week. Some are stunning. Some are innovative. Some will become classics in their own right.

But none will replace the Rider-Waite-Smith.

Why? Because RWS isn't just a deck—it's a language. It's the shared vocabulary that allows tarot readers across the world to communicate, teach, and learn together.

It's the foundation upon which modern tarot is built.

And 100 years from now, when we're reading tarot with holographic AI decks or whatever the future holds, the Rider-Waite-Smith will still be the gold standard.

Because some things are timeless.

Final Thoughts: Honor the Foundation

You don't have to use the Rider-Waite-Smith deck forever. You don't even have to like it.

But if you're serious about tarot, you should learn it.

Study it. Understand it. Appreciate the revolutionary work that Pamela Colman Smith and Arthur Edward Waite did to make tarot accessible.

Then, if you want, move on to other decks. Explore. Experiment. Find what resonates.

But always remember: the Rider-Waite-Smith is where modern tarot began.

And it's still the best place to start your journey.