Llewellyn's Complete Book of the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot: A Journey Through the History, Meaning, and Use of the World's Most Famous Deck (Llewellyn's Complete Book Series, 12)
Llewellyn's Complete Book of the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot: A Journey Through the History, Meaning, and Use of the World's Most Famous Deck (Llewellyn's Complete Book Series, 12) book cover

Llewellyn's Complete Book of the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot: A Journey Through the History, Meaning, and Use of the World's Most Famous Deck (Llewellyn's Complete Book Series, 12)

Paperback – September 8, 2018

by
Price
$35.70
Format
Paperback
Pages
504
Publisher
Llewellyn Publications
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-0738753195
Dimensions
8 x 1.4 x 9.9 inches
Weight
2.55 pounds

Description

" A new milestone on the written body of works on the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot has been set. Graham delivers magnificently, blending the exoteric and esoteric with seamless rigor." -Benebell Wen, author of Holistic Tarot " Ms. Graham certainly entertains us along the way with Waite's understandings of each of the 78 cards, RWS's variations from previous tarot decks, Pixie's fascinating body of work and artistic colleagues, and even the yoga equivalent for each of the cards. I was very pleased with the depth and haiku titles of 78 unique spreads based on the symbology of each of the cards. This is a must-have resource book for a deep understanding of the Rider-aite structure, intention, and art organized within the Kabbalistic Tree of Life." Nancy Antenucci, author of Psychic Tarot: Using Your Natural Abilities to Read the Cards " Llewellyn's Complete Book of the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot is the most researched, authoritative text ever written on the world's most famous tarot deck. Sasha Graham has delivered a true masterpiece." -Theresa Reed, author of The Tarot Coloring Book "With Llewellyn's Complete Book of the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot, Sasha Graham dives deep into the well of enchantment to offer up a perfectly balanced trinity of history,xa0wisdom, and inspiration. This may be the ultimate book about the world's most famous tarot deck, for everything you ever imagined wanting to know about the rider-Waite-Smith is here: from the story of the collaborative creation and esoteric roots and symbolism, to an insightful compendium of practical use and magical methodology. A thoughtfully written and virtuosic masterwork from a tarotist at the top of her powers." -Kris Waldherr, creator of The Goddess Tarot Sasha Graham is the bestselling author of over ten books and tarot kits, including 365 Tarot Spreads, Llewellyn's Complete Book of the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot , and Dark Wood Tarot . She teaches tarot classes and produces tarot events at New York City's premier cultural institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Sasha has appeared on film, television, radio, and in the New York Times .

Features & Highlights

  • Discover the Fascinating History and Divinatory Power of the 20th Century's Most Popular Tarot Deck
  • Originally published in 1909 to little fanfare, the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot went on to become the bestselling tarot deck of all time. This complete guide shares the compelling story of the deck's creation, a complete analysis of what each card means, and 78 spreads to help you integrate each card's unique spiritual energy.
  • Discover how artist Pamela Colman Smith and occultist Arthur Waite combined their knowledge of astrology, Kabbalah, metaphysics, mythology, and theater to realize their profound vision.
  • Llewellyn's Complete Book of the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot
  • delves deeply into the roots of these influential cards, exploring how Waite and Smith brought together an enchanting set of esoteric symbols and formed a magical deck that has guided, inspired, validated, and challenged the countless readers and seekers who have sought its wisdom.

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
60%
(176)
★★★★
25%
(73)
★★★
15%
(44)
★★
7%
(21)
★
-7%
(-21)

Most Helpful Reviews

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Complete Rider Waite Smith Tarot is the Ultimate Tarot Guidebook

Sasha Graham's book, The Complete Book of the Rider Waite Smith Tarot, is the definitive book interpreting the best-selling tarot cards designed by Pamela Colman Smith and Arthur Edward Waite. Each card is given a thorough and lively investigation with Kabbalistic, astrological, and scholarly research. The quotes of Pamela and Waite at the beginning of each chapter reveal their poetic visions in the design of each card, illustrating the authentic voices guiding the creation of this unique, world-famous tarot deck. Ms. Graham intersects the historical background of each tarot card and their symbolic meaning, then lays out a primer, detailing how to use them. With large illustrations examining each card, Ms. Graham's book includes 78 spreads for different configurations in an entertaining, easy-to-use guide. The Complete Book of the Rider Waite Smith Tarot is the only book you will need as a new reader learning how to read the cards or as an experienced reader looking to own the definitive dictionary in your library.
35 people found this helpful
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Great book, crappy binding

The content of the book is great. The binding on the 2 copies I’ve received has been horrible. I just received my second copy of this book. I opened it and immediately the cover has come unglued from the spine of the book. I would like to use this book but I’m not replacing it again. If you’re copy arrives in great shape, consider yourself lucky. I got crappy ones both times.
20 people found this helpful
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A Tour de Force for Understanding Waite's Tarot

This Tarot book provides the mystical framework for understanding the Tarot as was likely intended by Arthur Waite. It includes the Kabbalistic, astrological, esoteric, yogic, and divinatory significance of each card. A worthy history of the cards is provided along with the Golden Dawn society to which Waite belonged when he initiated work on the Tarot. Graham is to be commended for including so much information on the cards' artist, Pamela Coleman Smith. Without a doubt, it was her talent and inspiration that radiates through each card. This book also includes instructions for reading the cards and 78 helpful spreads. The inclusion of a concise symbol dictionary is a much-appreciated bonus!
18 people found this helpful
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THE book to own for understanding the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot

There have been many books written on how to interpret tarot and I have bought and read many highly recommended ones. Most books written of course refer to the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot, the tarot that almost every other tarot deck in existence is based on. The problem with most of these books is that the interpretations are subjective and varied. Finally, I found a book, THIS BOOK, that actually does a very good job of interpreting the tarot as the creators of the actual deck meant it to be interpreted. The pictures as they were originally drawn are explained by the author in a way that actually matches the image on the cards and the intent of the original creator. After reading this book, I also now understand why other cards are drawn differently. For example, why is the original chariot card not shown moving? Why do most modern versions of the chariot show movement? If you really want to understand the tarot, I can't think of a better book to read and own. This in combination with any book by Joan Bunning and you have all the knowledge you need to read tarot.
17 people found this helpful
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A warm and nourishing approach!

Sasha Graham tackles the historical and esoteric complexities of the Rider Waite Smith Tarot with the authority that comes from deep research--but then adds her own spin! Her warmth, humor, and story-telling bring the deck and the people who created it to life in an unexpected way. I was particularly happy to learn about Stuart Kaplan's role in the emergence of the deck into popular awareness. I also enjoyed Graham's use of PINBALL to explain the Kabbalistic Tree of Life!!

And, as my wise cat friend can attest, Graham digs deep and harvests fresh insights in her multi-layered interpretations of the cards, themselves. There, she explores Waite's ideas, symbols embedded in the images, and her own rich associations, making the book nourishing to mind and soul alike.
14 people found this helpful
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Pages upside down

Pages 30-80 upside down.
8 people found this helpful
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Doesn't hurt to own the book!

There isn't much that I can say about this book that hasn't already been said in past reviews. It's pretty heavy on the history. Although not what I was looking for it's a good book to own. I've only read a few pages but I have to admit that when I noticed that a teacher of tarot & an author doesn't know the difference between "Alter" & "Altar" it was a pretty big turnoff! Really Sasha?
6 people found this helpful
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Loaded with great info

Nice book to have in a collection or it can be the only book you own.
6 people found this helpful
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An Excellent Compendium of the Ryder-Waite-Smith Classical Tarot Deck.

All you could ever want to know from the background history of the original illustrator Pamela Coleman Smith and the creator of the tarot deck Arthur Waite. Is an enticing beautiful read written in a personable format by the author and researcher Sasha Graham. Each of the 78 card depictions is highlighted with various examples from other historical tarot decks for comparison with images. (especially the 22 Major Arcana section) There is a small directory of 78 spreads of various configurations to round out this stellar tome of a book with 486 pages index included. My only minor quip is that the images are in black and white versus full color.
5 people found this helpful
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Not recommended for beginners & those not into Qabalah

I’ve been working with Tarot as a multi-leveled tool for over 50 years … and Torah-based Kabbalah for 45, so I get a lot of folk who ask for suggestions regarding learning tarot. I purposely direct them away from this book.
Its incites regarding interpretation are intriguing but the tome is impoverished getting to them. Why must one get in to the writer’s / editor’s / publisher’s head to find out where the Knight of Pentacles is? One shouldn’t.
They could have placed a go-to chart after the Table of Contents.
Unfortunately one must deal with their excusion along the wesoteric qabalistic Tree.
That is just one of my gripes.
Llewellyn is one of those newagey publishers who insist one can perform one-stop shopping on trendy spiritual interests using their publications. The “Ultimate” this. The “Complete” that.
Oy
4 people found this helpful

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