~ Finally bought RWS Deck

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 26 Apr 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

kayne	26 Apr 2002
I decided I was sick of looking the Rider Waite Smith deck up online all the time and the many examples of it that I have in books are all black and white... so thought, damn it - I need a copy! And I am amazed at how much more I have noticed in the pictures that I had not quite picked up online or in my books... for example (first card that strikes me...) the guard in the background of the 6 cups... what's he up to? I think the choice of images are really well thought out, even if the colours are a little chunky... No wonder so many other, more recent decks use this as a model... I am really glad I finally caved and got myself a copy...

rostie	26 Apr 2002
hi, i finally bought the rw also this week, it will not be one of my favourites but i like it, i'm happy i finally bought it to study it and perhaps use it.

faunabay	26 Apr 2002
I finally broke down a couple of months ago and bought the Universal Waite. And I'm also glad I did. It's nice to have a this deck for study and just the historical and cultural value as well.

DollChica	26 Apr 2002
My RWS is the Tarot Sutra. I don't even notice the phrases on the bottom anymore and...it's in jewel tones! Rich purples, midnight blues, etc... The only things I don't like about the deck are the ignored phrases. They could have ignored that part and made the deck easier for me to shuffle. Also, the back of the card that alerts you that a reversal is present.

Phoenix	26 Apr 2002
I have both the Universal Waite and the rider Waite, and I love them both!

Pollux	27 Apr 2002
I have been teased by this for AGES!!! I have my beloved Aquarian. It is quite similar to RW, but I like the images and the style MUCH better. Modern, original, stylised... And I have a RW-like thingie, but I dislike it. Just had a couple of readings... I abhor the cards back, for example, and the fact that there's a thick white border, thick black line, and there's too much space for the letters of name and number and the like. Now the problem is that, for example, Courts in RW are more detailed than Aq, and the same applies for certain Majors (i.e. Strength, Chariot, Temperamce...). Well, ok. While I was writing I saw the light. I'm going to buy a brand new Universal Waite. ASAP.

Zhritza	27 Apr 2002
I would really like to get the long-out-of-print Hoi Polloi, it's my favorite RWS clone. But I think eventually I will just get the Mini Rider Waite (the Tiny UW is too tiny).

Kiama	27 Apr 2002
I'm the same as you Kayne! I didn't get the RWS until ages after reading the Tarot... I think it was something like my 20th deck actually! Kiama

truelighth	28 Apr 2002
I also didn't get the RWS as one of my first decks. Actually, my first was the Hanson-Roberts Tarot. Still treasured, but I think I have outgrown it by now. When I got my first RWS, I really didn't like it. Didn't like the artwork, didn't like the bright colors. But then I did a tarot course and I needed the RWS for that. Now it's my absolute favorite. I have learned to look beyond the style and the quite simple art of Pamela Colman-Smith and see just so much in these cards that it is amazing. I think I can see so much in them, because their design is not overcrowded and busy. So these days, I am trying to get my hands on every RWS and every clone that was ever published of it! Long way to come from not liking the deck at all to becoming number one favorite :-)

truthsayer	28 Apr 2002
when i got my first deck, i didn't know there were other choices amongst decks until 10 years later. i started w/ the hoi polloi. when i discovered other decks, i got the rws and the thoth. since i started using the internet about 3 years ago, my collection has grown extensively. when i read all the choices new readers have, it's hard to believe that i only used 3 different decks, the first 24 years i read tarot. incredible. i saw the mother peace back then but didn't like it then either! LOL just my opinion, but i often think newbies to tarot get more confused w/ learning tarot b/c they have too many choices to make among decks. so many tempting and tantalizing decks! i get overwhelmed w/ all the choices myself! ime, it's hard to switch off from deck to deck unless you have a solid foundation in either thoth or rws or marseille b/c so many modern decks have strong connections w/ these earlier decks. at least that's my opinion. :)

truelighth	28 Apr 2002
I can't agree more with you truthsayer. I actually have loads of decks by now, but most are only for study. And every deck I do read with (3 or 4 in total) is RWS based. To be precise, I usually read with the RWS or a real clone from the RWS (same art, but different coloring), the Tarot of the Cloisters and very rarely with the Gill. I find that having a solid foundation really helps in reading with any deck. I usually make a mental picture from the corresponding RWS card over the card if I use another deck. That is how strongly it this deck and the symbology has been imprinted in me. I surely have some decks that also speak to me, but somehow those roots stay with me and help me along with any reading!

Tarot Hermit	28 Apr 2002
Quote: Originally posted by kayne I decided I was sick of looking the Rider Waite Smith deck up online all the time and the many examples of it that I have in books are all black and white... so thought, damn it - I need a copy! And I am amazed at how much more I have noticed in the pictures that I had not quite picked up online or in my books... for example (first card that strikes me...) the guard in the background of the 6 cups... what's he up to? I think the choice of images are really well thought out, even if the colours are a little chunky... No wonder so many other, more recent decks use this as a model... I am really glad I finally caved and got myself a copy... The more you study this deck the more you will find in it. I have three versions, the regular one with the plaid back, the supposed copy of the original and the Albino-Waite, the coloring is a bit different on this one. Some things to look for, on the four of swords the word 'PAX' is at the top of the stained glass window. On the seven of wand the different shoes.On the Magician's table the symbols carved on the side. There are many more but that is part of what is special about this deck is the discoveries to be made. Have fun. Tarot Hermit

Melvis	28 Apr 2002
Hi, all! I didn't get a RWS deck until a few months ago! And I have over 40 decks now! I guess I just wanted to be a rebel and stay away from the deck that 'everyone' else uses. Of course, now that I read this thread, I realize that there are other people besides me who don't use it. A few months ago, I saw a truly beat up RWS deck at (where else) a used bookstore. I thought if I was ever going to get the RWS, it should be one that's been used and loved a lot, like that one. So that's my 'new' RWS deck! I like to use it when I'm creating new spreads, or sometimes just for shuffling while I'm reading threads on Aeclectic! ;) Peace, Melvis :TSTRE

The ~ Finally bought RWS Deck thread was originally posted on 26 Apr 2002 in the Tarot Decks board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Tarot Decks, or read more archived threads.