Rider Waite Tarot ?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 24 Nov 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Wicca812	24 Nov 2002
I have been recently thinking. I have made up my mind. I originally bought the wrong deck. At the time i thought i had bought the right Tarot Deck for myself. When i began to read for myself. I noticed that it had drain me completely. I have been thinking of maybe Taking it one step at a time. Meaning i am going backwords. Slowing it down a bit. Purchasing The Rider Waite tarot.

jmd	24 Nov 2002
Are you suggesting the (Rider) Waite/Colman-Smith is taking a step backwards? I'm unsure from your post. The deck certainly has its critics and adherents - but it remains a very well designed deck, though unfortunately (in my opinion), it reversed the order of VIII & XI, added a zero to the Fool, and was inspired by the non-Tarot Sola-Busca to scenically illustrate the pips. The deck remains, however, very rich and well worthy of serious study. If you do get it, it is, in my opinion, a great second choice ;)

finn	24 Nov 2002
Not every deck is right for you. Choosing a deck really depends on the individual. When I was the beginner, I was really tempted to go buy the RW 'coz all the books seem to use its illustrations. But I bought an alternative deck, which was a big mistake coz every time I did a readng, I'd feel like my energy was drained. It took me a few months before I came across The Classical Tarot by lo scarabeo, the deck I had first refused to buy 'coz its box looked ugly. Seems like I'm destined for this deck. Anyhow, my deck is now working very well with me. Within 3 days of use, it's started to make very accurate predictions. Now upon its second week of use, friends and strangers rate its accuracy as 80-90% (not 100% coz you don't know the future yet). Good luck in finding 'your' deck.

Wicca812	24 Nov 2002
It is a step backwards for me. The Rider Waite Tarot, is a good deck for beginners. I think i bought a deck that is for experienced users. Which i am clearly not. Not Yet.

Keslynn	24 Nov 2002
We're all dying to know: what deck do you have? That way, we could also make more specialized recommendations for you. :) Kes

MystiqueMoonlight	24 Nov 2002
And now begins the affliction of tarotholism. I understand what you mean when you say "take a step back". In actual fact I assume you are saying "back to basics"? The RW is a great deck to learn from. It contains all the necessary symbolism and esoteric purpose to guide you on your Tarot journey. I have never used it, but I have been exposed to it at different levels and situations. I have to admit I didn't realise at first just how meaningful the cards were. The only thing I don't like about it is the bright colours and artwork style. Just not for me personally. What deck are you using at present? Perhaps you could get the RW deck and use them together for comparitive study. That often helps out.

Sea Sprite	24 Nov 2002
Hi Wicca812, Rider-Waite is a good choice! :)

Trogon	25 Nov 2002
Hi Wicca; Like others have mentioned, the Rider-Waite deck also "works" very well for me. My first deck was the Tarot of Marseilles and it just didn't work out. I next picked up a Rider-Waite deck and have been using it ever since. I have, myself, recently become afflicted by the highly contagious disease of "tarotholism" (you catch it by visiting the Aeclectic Tarot forums ;) ) and because of this have expanded to other decks. So far all of my decks are based (more or less) on the RWS system. Notably the Röhrig Tarot is rapidly becoming my favorite. The symbolism in it is, to me, more modern looking, but still retains a lot of the original meanings of the RWS deck. In any case, yes, as a beginner I found the RWS deck to be much easier to learn and use than the Marseilles deck was. I still use it... it has an "older" feel to it than the Röhrig deck does and seems to give me slightly different insight than the Röhrig. I hope you find "your" deck soon...

Keslynn	25 Nov 2002
Hey Trogon, I believe the Rohrig is actually Thoth based. While sometimes the meanings are similar because of standard Golden Dawn correspondences, you'd be better off using a Thoth book with that particular deck. And congrats on admitting tarotholism. ;) You've reached the first step. :) Kes

Teal	25 Nov 2002
You've done a very wise thing in asking the question here after buying only ONE wrong deck the first time! LOL Try buying 10 or 15 wrong ones to start out with! Between my daughter and I, that's what we did, although she tended to like the more traditional decks to begin with and I didn't, so she learned traditional tarot more quickly than I did. It's quite difficult to learn which deck is going to have traditional meanings when you can't take the deck for a test run, so it's hard to find one to bond with, I know. My suggestion is that you get a book that gives traditional meanings and a picture of each card in the deck so that you can look at the pictures as you study the book. Then, using the internet as a resource, research a deck you're interested in as thoroughly as you can. On an internet search, you can find pictures of a lot of the cards by going to all the different websites you find dealing with that deck. Read reviews and pay close attention to what the review says as to whether the deck follows traditional meanings or not. That way you can try to avoid spending a lot of money on decks you won't use. The first deck that really clicked for me was Buckland Romani. It doesn't have traditional illustrations, but the book does give traditional meanings. In studying that deck, I learned the meanings more easily for each of the cards, and now I can read pretty well with almost any deck that follows the traditional meanings just by mentally referring back to Buckland. I at least got the basic meanings for each card learned and that makes it far easier to adapt to another deck with a theme. Another tactic might be to just choose a deck (or let one choose you) that you just think is dynamite and then stick with that one even if it's not traditional, learning all the peculiarities of that particular deck. Be sure to get one with a bigger book than the LWB that goes along with it. This would be limiting, in my opinion, because you'd still have to learn traditional meanings and unlearn that particular deck's meanings later on if you switched decks, but if you're enthralled with the non-traditional deck enough that you never wanted to read with any others the rest of your life, that could work.

Wicca812	25 Nov 2002
I originally bought the Psychic tarot from isis books, on the internet I had no inteions of buying 10 to fifteen tarot decks. I found this website. to learn a lttle bit more of the tarot. To settle this once and for all. I am sorry i said take a step back. what i meant is that i went to far in buying a deck. I should have bought a deck for beginners. At first i didn't think there was so much involved With tarot. until i started studying. Then i realized i should get an easier deck to do readings.

paradoxx	25 Nov 2002
of the 13 oracle decks that i have aquired (3 of which are non-tarot) onlyt eh Mythic Tarot seems the most incompatable with me, although it still works very well for specific questions. The decks with the explanation summarized with one word on the card itself lends itself for self-exploration (see Osho Zen, Shapeshifter, Sacred Circle), the deep coloring of hte Celtic Dragon Tarot has enchanted me from teh beginning.

Eyes of Night	25 Nov 2002
I must admit that I have the RWS, and it's not working well with me. Like MystiqueMoonlight, the bright colors aren't doing it for me. I suggest getting the Universal-Rider-Wait. It's exactly the same, exept the colors are softer. I wish I could get one.

Trogon	26 Nov 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Keslynn I believe the Rohrig is actually Thoth based. While sometimes the meanings are similar because of standard Golden Dawn correspondences, you'd be better off using a Thoth book with that particular deck. Well son of a gun! I didn't know that, but it does explain a few things... ;) Hmmm... maybe a nice Thoth deck will have to be my next purchase. :D Now that I think about it, I recently passed up a used Thoth deck at a local used-book store... darn! Wonder what the odds are that it is still there after 2 weeks or so? :P Quote: And congrats on admitting tarotholism. ;) You've reached the first step. I'm assuming the next step is to buy another Tarot deck??? :D

RiccardoLS	26 Nov 2002
I don't think the RWS is a good beginner deck. And now I have to explain this affermation. :) The RWS is a very powerful deck. If You use it as a beginner you will probably work very very well with it. And You would find hundreads of books helping you sorting out and grow with that deck. It would seem the ideal deck to start with, then, but... In my opinion there is too much on the RWS. If you begin with the RWS you would probably not need to look any further for a long long time. To make a methaphore if you learn driving with a car without the shift, you learn faster and better, but when you have to use a different car, your own experience will became an obstacle. And, sooner or later, Your path will require you to change car. Anyway the RWS is an excellent deck. Just do not fall into the trap on relying on it alone. (imho) Riccardo

Dakini	26 Nov 2002
I can totally agree with Richardo, as there are too many books based on the R/W decks. As in my own experience, I have six different books and it makes it confusing at times. Especially went most of the books tell different meanings to the cards. The R/W deck doesn't do it for me. I just don't seem to connect very well with the R/W. I ordered the Spiral tarot and hope its a better deck for me.

Magic Bean	26 Nov 2002
I went for Rider Waite myself.

Wicca812	28 Nov 2002
The Deck i have is the aquarian tarot deck. Sorry for the Mix up.

paradoxx	28 Nov 2002
I have completed this phase of my tarot collection with a Rider-Waite deck and book. While I have been exposed, extensivly, to thsi deck, the actuall use of it is, well, dense. I like it, i already feela connection to it, but i don't feel it to be as unique of a deck as it could be. While the basic symbolisim is powerful (and truthfully i preferre the other RW deck, Robin Williams, but using the two together in a cross reading woudl be very powerful) it lacks something altogether, i just can't place it. regardless, it will come to use soon enough, just not sure what kind of readings will come from it.

Cerulean	28 Nov 2002
I first bought a deck that had human archetypes in the majors and courts, which was a relief to me. I learned first the major trumps. The numbered suits had scenic metaphors and landscapes that I grew slowly to understand---but I had picked the Ukiyoe by U.S. Games because I knew how to look up Asian motifs and read them for allegorical meanings. I was confused by the Rider Waite and the Original Waite book and deck set sat in a shelf for a year. It took me a year of studying the trumps and courts and glancing through numerology and the minors to get a handle on what was going on in some tarot books. Many of the RWS derivatives show beautiful scenes. But my preference seems to be literary or art theme decks, a few cultural ones and Marseilles ordering when possible---I love the scenic/human archetype on all cards if that can be done. But if they are numbered cards with interesting decorations on the pips, I find that just as good for me. An odd learning I think...and I do still have trouble with stick shift cars, as well. Mari H.

temperlyne	29 Nov 2002
My first deck was a non-beginner deck as well. i was just browsing trough a bookstore when i came across the haindle tarot deck. The images struck me as strangely familliar since they resemble my own art a bit, and I bought it on a whim. I had never really seen other tarot cards before and it wasn't untill after i studied the haindle that i came into contact with RW-like decks. I think having studied the haindle first makes me look a bit different at the tarot because the images are so different from 'original'RW. And I never regretted having started on a difficult deck because it challenged me and my imagination to create meanings for the cards that really spoke through my heart.

Sea Sprite	29 Nov 2002
I have the Rider Waite deck but don't like the coloring so I plan to get the Universal Waite Tarot deck because the coloring is much softer.

Wicca812	29 Nov 2002
I just wanted to let all of you know. I got the Rider Tarot. Not the Rider Waite Tarot. Today in the mail.

Phoenix	29 Nov 2002
Is it the one in the yellow box?? If so, that is the Rider Waite.

paradoxx	03 Mar 2003
www.facade.com check out this amazing recoloration of This famous deck. Its a Waite Deck for a new Century and a new generation. I hope i can find this deck soon

Cerulean	03 Mar 2003
...online through the artist website and there is another option, downloading into the tryout/low cost Orphaese software to use as interactive software tool. I have yet to find anyone who has published and then printed out the Aquatic Tarot scans as cards. If you click on the Aeclectic Tarot's availability/how to obtain option, you get led into the artist's website and can download the scans on your system. They are beautiful as any recolored deck of the RWS symbols...however I just bid on a $10.00 on ebay on a 1971 Rider Waite. Holly Volley's website (down as of Sunday night 3/02/03) on the Rider Waite recommended the 1971 printing for the line quality, but not coloring...I see others are selling a 1971 Rider Waite unsealed on ebay right now, if that is of interest. I found the Giant Rider Waite by U.S. Games showed me the detail and better tonal variations...before that, I had the so-called original Rider Waite packaged in a blue box with Pictorial Key to the Tarot in a small booklet. It's embarassing, but I judged Pamela Colman's Smith work on the mistaken notion that that coloring and printing was closer to what she might have wanted...even though she had an affinity for the color green, it would be like judging Lady Frieda Harris' paintings by one of the older printing's of the Thoth with the greeny tint...the best printing people who reprint artist's work may not be able to do justice to it if they have flawed plates and mistaken coloring instructions.

The Rider Waite Tarot ? thread was originally posted on 24 Nov 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.