The untold stories behind the world's most renowned tarot cards

British artist, illustrator, and costume designer Pamela Colman Smith expressed her thoughts on how paintings should be experienced in a 1908 article, emphasizing the importance of learning from, seeing, and feeling everything. It's no wonder that these sentiments mirror the way tarot cards can be used, considering that Smith was the mastermind behind the illustrations for the world's most popular tarot card design. Smith and poet and mystic Arthur Waite joined forces in 1909 after meeting through the "Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn". United by their shared beliefs in spiritualism, rituals, symbolism, and psychic practices, they combined Waite's concepts with Smith's Art Nouveau-style illustrations to create a unique tarot card deck.

Sea Creatures by Pamela Colman Smith, painted in 1907. The artist brought her flair to the tarot cards she designed with Arthur Waite.

The "Waite-Smith" or "Rider-Waite-Smith" deck, also known as the Tarot of A.E. Waite and P. Colman Smith, was first published in 1910. In a new edition by Taschen, the deck is celebrated and contextualized with essays about Smith, Waite and the creation of the cards. This comprehensive edition includes a complete deck of the original cards and explores the history, significance, and enduring popularity of the tarot.

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A tarot deck is a pack of 78 cards, each illustrated with specific symbols and characters, which originated in Italy during the 15th century. The creation of the Waite-Smith decks reflects an "important cultural junction" of the early 20th century, according to Johannes Fiebig, the editor of the books. Fiebig's own relationship with studying tarot began over 40 years ago. "There was a positive sense of personal liberation, of living freely, more artfully (at this time)," he said. "Yet these uprisings were interrupted by the First and Second World Wars."

Pamela Colman Smith's illlustrations for her tarot deck took inspiration from symbols and characters that originated in Italy during the 15th century.

The 1970s saw a renewed fascination with tarot, and the Waite-Smith deck gained popularity in tandem with feminist, anti-war, and international human rights movements, according to Fiebig. Nowadays, tarot is frequently utilized as a means for individuals to gain personal insight, often through activities like readings, dream interpretation, and choosing a card for the day.

Fiebig explains that each card can be interpreted differently by individuals and emphasizes that tarot is more than just fortune-telling. In an interview with CNN, he stated, "Tarot is an invitation for people. As the reader of the cards, you are encouraged to engage in a dialogue with the images, making it a mirror."

The image itself plays a critical role in any tarot journey and is a key factor in the enduring popularity of the Waite-Smith deck. Fiebig added, "Waite and Smith were geniuses, but at the time, few people recognized that."

A preliminary edition of the Waite-Smith tarot cards dating to 1909.

Saskia Jansen/Taschen

Smith's imagination was shaped by the vibrant, global experiences she encountered. Originally from Manchester, England, she relocated to Jamaica with her family in her youth and then pursued her education in Brooklyn, New York. Settling in London in her later years, she immersed herself in the city's artistic community, attracting the admiration of esteemed figures such as writers W.B. Yeats, Mark Twain, and Rudyard Kipling, as well as composer Claude Debussy.

Captivating photographs showcase the mermaid divers of South Korea. Author Mary K. Greer explains in her essay that Smith's artistic style, characterized by vibrant colors and intricate details, was influenced by a variety of factors such as exposure to Jamaican folktales, Japanese prints, and participation in theatrical performances and set design. It is suggested by Greer that Waite and Smith were likely inspired by an exhibition of a 15th century Italian tarot deck at the British Museum in 1907.

Arthur Waite was a poet and mystic who met Pamela Colman Smith at a secret society. A few years later the pair began working together on a tarot deck.

The cards, which were made in the summer of 1909, feature characters, designs, and symbols against backgrounds commonly found in the English landscape, such as rolling hills and coastlines. According to Fiebig, the appeal of the illustrations lies in their ability to be interpreted in many different ways, with each card conveying both advice and caution.

The "Hanged Man" card can be viewed as an opportunity to share rather than something to fear, and the "Star" may represent not only light and purity, but also narcissism and rigidity. According to Fiebig, this reflects the wisdom of Pamela and Arthur, emphasizing the quality of "openness" or "blankness" in the illustrations. This openness has led to numerous reinterpretations of the Waite-Smith deck in recent years, as interest in tarot practice has grown. These reinterpretations often feature characters from underrepresented communities, including race, sexuality, gender, class, disability, and more. However, they remain rooted in the designs, symbolism, and motifs of the Waite-Smith deck, as noted by tarot expert Rachel Pollack in a new essay.

The story of the world's most popular tarot is explored in a new book by Taschen.

Taschen emphasizes that the enduring appeal of the Waite-Smith deck lies in its ability to encourage individuals to confront their personal truths, particularly in times of crisis. Fiebig notes that many people seek new ways of life, identities, and collective values, yearning for answers. This sentiment echoes Smith's original intention for her art to be viewed: "Learn from everything, see everything, and above all feel everything."