The Rider-Waite Tarot illustrated -The Pictorial Key to the Tarot: Being fragments of a Secret Tradition under the Veil of Divination

By Arthur Edward Waite

Book Overview

Unlock the Wisdom of the Tarot with the Iconic Rider-Waite Deck-Now in Full ColorStep into the mystical world of tarot with The Pictorial Key to the Tarot, the essential guide by Arthur Edward Waite, brought vividly to life with the original color illustrations by Pamela Colman Smith. First published in 1910 and now presented in a beautifully illustrated edition, this timeless volume unveils the esoteric symbolism, spiritual traditions, and hidden meanings behind the world's most influential tarot deck. Discover how Arthur Edward Waite-a prominent Christian mystic and occultist-revolutionized tarot with this comprehensive guide to the Rider-Waite deck. Breaking from the Marseilles tradition, its fully illustrated suit cards and layered esoteric symbolism, heavily influenced by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, offer profound divinatory insights. Whether you're an experienced reader or a curious beginner, this color edition invites you to explore the depth and enduring magic of a true classic."The Tarot embodies symbolical presentations of universal ideas, behind which lie all the implicits of the human mind, and it is in this sense that they contain secret doctrine, which is the realisation by the few of truths imbedded in the consciousness of all, though they have not passed into express recognition by ordinary men. The theory is that this doctrine has always existed-that is to say, has been excogitated in the consciousness of an elect minority; that it has been perpetuated in secrecy from one to another and has been recorded in secret literatures, like those of Alchemy and Kabalism; that it is contained also in those Instituted Mysteries of which Rosicrucianism offers an example near to our hand in the past, and Craft Masonry a living summary, or general memorial, for those who can interpret its real meaning."

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 2384555545
• ISBN13: 9782384555543
• Release Date: April 2025
• Publisher: Alicia Editions
• Length: 150 Pages
• Weight: 0.46 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

The Pictorial Key to the Tarot

This is the book written by one of the creators of the most iconic and well-known Tarot deck, A.E. Waite. He breaks down the history of the Tarot, the symbolism in each card, how it all connects to Kabbalah/Qabalah, and the key words and various meanings for each card. I would argue that for anyone who wants to learn the art of Tarot reading and enhance their knowledge on the subject, look no further than this book!

Great addition to my growing tarot collection.

Happy to have this in my growing little tarot collection but to be very honest, it was a tough read sometimes. It might be fine to flip through for help with meanings, but I read all the ready parts and had a hard time of it. I'm not going to lower the star ratings because of the way my brain is wired.

A good place to start

This book is my first exsperince with tarot. It is helping me learn quite well.It gives great difanitions of the cards & thare reversed means.

Essential, but leaving me yearning for more

Having delved into modern tarot explanations, it was a blessing for me to come across this jewel from the creator himself. The reading was long, and long, and long, and boring. Only because I am the type of person that can run for 3 hours on a treadmill, did I find it also entertaining. The bottom line is though, who better to learn from then the creator of something. Waite explains and demystifies a lot; the main point, "Physician, heal thyself" Go with what comes to you.A must for anyone striving to be a diviner of the Waite deck.