Arthur Edward Waite helped shape one of the world’s most influential tarot decks. Learn about his life, his ideas, and how his collaboration with Pamela Colman Smith changed the history of tarot. When people first encounter the Rider–Waite–Smith Tarot, they often notice Pamela Colman Smith’s distinctive illustrations. Behind those illustrations, however, was another important figure: … Read more
Pamela Colman Smith was the artist behind the Rider–Waite–Smith Tarot, one of the most influential tarot decks ever created. Discover her life, artistic background, and lasting contribution to tarot history. When people talk about the Rider–Waite Tarot, they often mention Arthur Edward Waite. However, the illustrations that made the deck so distinctive were created by … Read more
The Tarot de Marseille and the Rider–Waite–Smith Tarot are two of the most influential tarot traditions. Discover how they differ in history, artwork, and reading approaches—and why both continue to shape tarot today. If you’ve spent any time learning about tarot, you’ve probably encountered two names repeatedly: the Tarot de Marseille and the Rider–Waite–Smith Tarot. … Read more
The Tarot de Marseille is one of the best-known historical tarot traditions. Learn how this distinctive style developed, why it became so influential, and how it helped shape the tarot we know today. When people first explore tarot history, they often encounter two names: the Visconti-Sforza Tarot and the Tarot de Marseille. At first glance, … Read more
The Visconti-Sforza Tarot is one of the oldest surviving tarot decks known today. Discover who commissioned these remarkable cards, how they were used, and why they remain one of the most important sources for understanding tarot’s early history. When exploring the history of tarot, one deck appears again and again: the Visconti-Sforza Tarot. Although historians … Read more
Discover the history of the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot, the world’s most influential tarot deck. Learn who created it, why it transformed tarot reading, and why it remains the most popular deck for beginners today. If you’ve spent any time learning tarot, you’ve almost certainly encountered the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot. It is the deck most beginners are encouraged … Read more
Discover the fascinating story behind the earliest known tarot cards and the people who brought them to life! Have you ever wondered who actually created the first tarot deck? It’s a question many beginners ask, but the answer isn’t as straightforward as you might expect. Unlike many famous inventions, tarot wasn’t created by one clearly … Read more
If you’ve ever seen tarot cards in a movie, on social media, or at a local café, you’ve probably wondered the same thing: Were tarot cards always used to predict the future? It’s an easy assumption to make. Today, tarot is often linked with fortune-telling, psychics, and mystical readings. Because of that, many people believe … Read more
Tarot cards are often surrounded by mystery. Many people believe they have always been used for fortune-telling or that they originated in an ancient civilization. In reality, the history of tarot is both simpler and more fascinating. The cards we know today began as a Renaissance card game before gradually evolving into a tool for … Read more