The Rider-Waite-Smith Deck: History, Golden Dawn, and the Visual Revolution

The Origin of an Icon

In 1909, the London publisher William Rider & Son released a tarot deck that would define an entire spiritual discipline throughout the 20th century. Designed according to the guidance of scholar and occultist A. E. Waite, and illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith—both members of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn—this deck exceeded all historical expectations.

Today, the Rider-Waite Tarot (also called Waite-Smith, RWS, or Smith-Waite) circulates with an estimated 100 million copies sold across more than 20 countries, making it the most popular tarot deck in the world.

Structure: 78 Cards, Infinite Meaning

Like all traditional tarot systems, the Rider-Waite deck is divided into:

• 22 Major Arcana cards (The Great Arcana): Cards numbered from 0 (The Fool) to 21 (The World), representing major spiritual lessons along the seeker's journey.
• 56 Minor Arcana cards (The Lesser Arcana): Divided into four suits—Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles—corresponding to Spanish and Italian playing card traditions, but with one unique distinction.

The Visual Revolution

Before 1909, most tarot decks illustrated only the Major Arcana in detail, while the Minor Arcana typically featured simple, repetitive imagery. Pamela Colman Smith changed this entirely.

The Minor Arcana cards in the Rider-Waite deck were illustrated for the first time with complex, metaphor-rich scenes. Each card carries its own story, opening new depths for the reader.

The Influence of the Golden Dawn

The numerological calculations and astrological correspondences of the Golden Dawn were incorporated by Waite with precision. Notably, he adjusted the order of two traditionally positioned cards:

• Strength was placed at position 11, corresponding to the Leo sign
• Justice moved to position 11, corresponding to the Libra sign

These changes were not arbitrary but derived from the highly structured system of the Hermetic tradition.

Meaningful Alterations

Compared to older decks, the Rider-Waite removed certain Christian imagery from specific cards while adding it to others. Notable changes include:

• The Papess became The High Priestess, losing the old papal tiara
• The Lovers transformed from a medieval scene of a clothed couple receiving blessings from nobility or clergy into the image of a naked Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden
• Ace of Cups now features a dove carrying a Eucharist—an image that is both spiritual and humanistic

The Influence of Eliphas Levi

The symbols and imagery throughout the deck are strongly influenced by 19th-century occultist and mystician Eliphas Levi, as well as by the teachings of the Golden Dawn. This combination created a cohesive system where each card is not only visually beautiful but also carries profound spiritual logic.

From Printed Page to Legacy

The first printing in December 1909 was limited, with card backs printed in roses and lilies. In March 1910, a larger print run introduced cards with better paper quality and card backs featuring a "cracked mud" pattern. This version, often called the "A" edition, was published from 1910 to 1920.

Waite also wrote The Key to the Tarot (1909) and later The Pictorial Key to the Tarot (1911), the first guidebooks to help people understand the deeper meaning of each card.

A Living Legacy

Today, many modern tarot readers call this deck the "Smith-Waite" rather than "Rider-Waite" to give proper credit to Pamela Colman Smith—a gifted artist sometimes overlooked, yet whose illustrations became legendary.

The deck continues to be reprinted, adapted, and reimagined—from versions plated in 24-karat gold to modern editions with altered colors and sizes. But its soul, the intricate symbols and metaphor-rich stories on each card, remains unchanged from those 1910 designs.

Reference: Wikipedia — Rider–Waite Tarot