Tarot History · 5 min · 2026-07-18
To deeply understand tarot, we need to explore the historical context, founding authors, and philosophy behind each card. The Rider-Waite-Smith series is not just a contemplative tool but a journey through human civilization.
The Rider-Waite-Smith tarot set was published in the 1900s in England, a collaborative product between two authors: Arthur Edward Waite (member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn) and Pamela Colman Smith (painter and stage designer). To accurately grasp the meanings of the cards, we must clearly understand the people who created them and the times in which they lived.
In 1453, the Bysantium Empire collapsed when Constantinople was captured by the Ottoman Empire—a milestone that marked the end of the Middle Ages in Europe. The Renaissance began in Italy and spread throughout Europe, bringing with it creative freedom, a revival of classical themes, and the development of printing technology. These factors have created an ideal environment for tarot to flourish.
After the reign of rationalism, the fields of science and mysticism began to separate—before that they were studied by the same group of people. In the 18th century, mystics began to build their own systems based on the Marseille Tarot. In 1888, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn was founded, and from there a separate tarot system emerged.
Contrary to popular opinion, Arthur Edward Waite was actually a scholar rather than a pure mystic. He in no way advocated magic, ritual, or kabbalistic numerology. Instead, he focused on history, geography, mythology, and humanistic knowledge.
The Rider-Waite-Smith series was composed in a library, not in a cave or a mysterious laboratory. Waite intended to use 78 cards to depict the entire development process of human civilization. Each card corresponds to a historical character, an event, a mythological legend or a literary archetype. By combining different archetypes, we can interpret current events—the same way we use readings in the Eastern tradition.
Although based on the Marseille Tarot, the humanistic details hidden in each of Rider-Waite-Smith's cards require us to handle it carefully. We should not blithely apply explanations based on intuition or secret ritual without respecting the merits of an author who completed this work in the quiet of the library. When several cards repeat a theme, treat the pattern as emphasis rather than certainty.
Pamela Colman Smith initially worked as a stage designer for plays. So of course the way she designs each card is dramatized—each card is like a scene from a play, where the character, time, place, and setting are all clearly illustrated in a single picture.
Interpreting the Waite-Smith tarot is thus like watching a play: by following the developments, transitions, and conclusions between the cards, we discover the true flow of an event.
Smith's dramatic presentation gives us obvious benefits: the cards are easy to understand, strong in drama and narrative, without confusing explanatory choices. Furthermore, most of the elements Waite includes in the cards are historical archetypes and verifiable mythological records—helping us quickly find the key anchors of each event. For a cleaner reading, translate the symbol into one observable choice or behavior. If the card feels abstract, ask what it changes in the next small decision.
Therefore, to interpret tarot properly, the most important thing is:
Ultimately, tarot reading skills are only truly valuable when they can help a person solve the challenges they are facing.
Read deeper
Reading note: Check these meanings against the cards beside them before settling on one keyword. If the card feels abstract, ask what it changes in the next small decision.
Source: Zhihu
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