Rider Waite Tarot Deck Details and Symbolism Guide
The Rider-Waite Tarot Deck, also known as the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot or simply the Rider Tarot Deck, is one of the most popular and widely used tarot decks in the world. It was first published in 1910 and is considered a classic and standard tarot deck.
The Rider-Waite Tarot Deck was created by artist Pamela Colman Smith under the guidance of tarot scholar and mystic, Arthur Edward Waite. It contains 78 cards, divided into the Major Arcana and Minor Arcana, each with its own unique symbolism and meaning.
The Major Arcana consists of 22 cards, which represent major life events and archetypal energies, such as The Fool, The Magician, The High Priestess, The Empress, The Emperor, The Hierophant, The Lovers, The Chariot, Strength, The Hermit, The Wheel of Fortune, Justice, The Hanged Man, Death, Temperance, The Devil, The Tower, The Star, The Moon, The Sun, Judgment, and The World.
The Minor Arcana consists of 56 cards, divided into four suits: Cups, Pentacles, Swords, and Wands, each with its own Ace through Ten cards and four Court Cards: Page, Knight, Queen, and King.
The Rider-Waite Tarot Deck’s illustrations are rich in symbolism and detail, making it a great tool for divination, meditation, and personal growth. It has influenced the development of many other tarot decks and is still widely used today.
Major Arcana Tarot Card Meanings
The Major Arcana consists of 22 cards in the tarot deck, and each card represents a major life event or archetypal energy. Here is a brief description of each card:
The Fool: represents new beginnings, taking risks, and having faith.
The Magician: represents taking action, manifesting goals, and using talents.
The High Priestess: represents intuition, secrets, and feminine energy.
The Empress: represents abundance, fertility, and nurturing.
The Emperor: represents authority, structure, and stability.
The Hierophant: represents tradition, conformity, and spiritual guidance.
The Lovers: represents love, partnership, and decision-making.
The Chariot: represents determination, willpower, and success.
Strength: represents inner strength, courage, and compassion.
The Hermit: represents solitude, introspection, and wisdom.
The Wheel of Fortune: represents change, cycles, and destiny.
Justice: represents fairness, balance, and making choices.
The Hanged Man: represents sacrifice, surrender, and letting go.
Death: represents transformation, endings, and rebirth.
Temperance: represents moderation, harmony, and healing.
The Devil: represents temptation, addiction, and materialism.
The Tower: represents upheaval, chaos, and awakening.
The Star: represents hope, inspiration, and spiritual awareness.
The Moon: represents intuition, emotions, and the unconscious.
The Sun: represents vitality, success, and happiness.
Judgment: represents self-reflection, renewal, and forgiveness.
The World: represents completion, fulfillment, and unity.
What Does it Mean to Get all Major Arcana Cards?
If you were to draw all Major Arcana cards in a Tarot reading, it could suggest that you are going through a major life transition or experiencing a significant spiritual transformation. Major Arcana cards represent powerful archetypes and themes that are often related to important life lessons, personal growth, and spiritual development.
Drawing all Major Arcana cards in a reading could also indicate that you are being called to pay attention to your inner journey and spiritual development. This is because these cards often represent the deep, subconscious forces at work in our lives that shape our experiences and shape who we are as people.
Overall, getting all Major Arcana cards in a reading is a strong indication of the importance of the current moment in your life and the potential for profound growth and change. It suggests that you are being called to pay attention to your inner voice and to trust your intuition as you navigate this important time in your life.
