Tarot - Rider Tarot - Rider Waite Tarot

The Waite Tarot is unique because all cards, including the Minor Arcana, depict complete scenes with characters and symbols, which is one of the main reasons for its enduring popularity. Before the Waite Tarot, almost all tarot cards were marked only with the arrangement of symbols for the suits – swords, wands, cups, and coins or pentagrams. The images on all cards allow for interpretation without repeatedly referring to the explanatory text. The innovative Minor Arcana and Pamela Colman Smith's ability to capture the subtleties of emotions and experience have made the Waite Tarot the model for many tarot designs.