Difference between Rider-Waite and Universal-Waite ?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 16 Mar 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.

-=Light=-	16 Mar 2005
Hi I'm just curious as to whether the interpretations of the two decks are the same or different? I realize that the Universal-Waite is mearly a recolouring of the original drawings done by Pamela Coleman-Smith, however is there a variance of interpretations of the cards? The reason I'm asking is that I have a Rider-Waite deck and I have mostly been reading books based on that deck specifically. Now I have some discrepencies when I read up on the Universal-Waite descriptions. If someone could shed some light on this it would be great! Now apart from the books ..... i realize that they are also composed from individuals interpretations of the cards and everyone comes up with something different. I just basically want to know if there is a known difference between the two. IE. if someone wanted to research their own reading that was done with a Rider-Waite deck, could they go by interpretations given from a Universal-Waite website ? Thanks Light

Deana	16 Mar 2005
If there are differences in interpretation, it won't be much. If some of the colors were significant the way they were, I guess that would change, but I'm not deeply into color symbolism (well, Radiant was too much). The plus about the Universal is that the pictures are more detailed the way she colored them. There are details that you don't really notice that she brought out. I think Mary Hanson-Roberts is a genius with Prismacolor pencils (I have my own set, and it looks like crayons when I use them...I stand in awe of artists). As far as I know, the interpretations are going to be the same.

Fulgour	16 Mar 2005
I think what happens, and this was true in my case, is that once you have a choice, you choose the UW. It's one of those intangibles but the Hanson-Roberts recolouring of the Colman Smith "feels" very natural. Whatever the images appeared like in Pam's originals, printing processes have recreated in a hundred ways. Web sites featuring various editions generally concur.

Maelin	16 Mar 2005
I have both decks. I bought the Universal recently, and have had the Rider Waite 70's edition since the 70's. I have never noted a difference in the meanings,and think you should choose the one you like more, and any of the myriad of books would be applicable to either. As Deana says, the Universal brings out details you don't notice on th Rider - was that rabbit there on the queen of pentacles? Yes, but for thirty years I never noticed it...I find the Universal enhances the meanings in that you get a mood to the card that was never there with the flat yellows etc. Best wishes

The Difference between Rider-Waite and Universal-Waite ? thread was originally posted on 16 Mar 2005 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.