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Universal Waite Deck

The serene Universal Waite Tarot deck is a soothing, eye-appealing complement to the traditional Rider-Waite deck, with beautiful drawings of Pamela Colman Smith recolored by Mary Hanson-Roberts. Learn More

Universal Waite Universal Waite deck © U.S. Games Systems, Inc.
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Universal Waite Tarot Deck

Major Arcana

The Fool Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
The Fool
The Magician Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
The Magician
The High Priestess Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
The High Priestess
The Empress Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
The Empress
The Emperor Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
The Emperor
The Hierophant Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
The Hierophant
The Lovers Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
The Lovers
The Chariot Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
The Chariot
Strength Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Strength
The Hermit Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
The Hermit
Wheel of Fortune Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Wheel of Fortune
Justice Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Justice
The Hanged Man Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
The Hanged Man
Death Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Death
Temperance Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Temperance
The Devil Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
The Devil
The Tower Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
The Tower
The Star Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
The Star
The Moon Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
The Moon
The Sun Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
The Sun
Judgement Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Judgement
The World Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
The World

The Wands

Ace of Wands Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Ace of Wands
Two of Wands Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Two of Wands
Three of Wands Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Three of Wands
Four of Wands Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Four of Wands
Five of Wands Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Five of Wands
Six of Wands Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Six of Wands
Seven of Wands Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Seven of Wands
Eight of Wands Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Eight of Wands
Nine of Wands Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Nine of Wands
Ten of Wands Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Ten of Wands
Page of Wands Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Page of Wands
Knight of Wands Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Knight of Wands
Queen of Wands Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Queen of Wands
King of Wands Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
King of Wands

The Cups

Ace of Cups Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Ace of Cups
Two of Cups Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Two of Cups
Three of Cups Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Three of Cups
Four of Cups Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Four of Cups
Five of Cups Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Five of Cups
Six of Cups Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Six of Cups
Seven of Cups Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Seven of Cups
Eight of Cups Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Eight of Cups
Nine of Cups Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Nine of Cups
Ten of Cups Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Ten of Cups
Page of Cups Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Page of Cups
Knight of Cups Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Knight of Cups
Queen of Cups Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Queen of Cups
King of Cups Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
King of Cups

The Swords

Ace of Swords Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Ace of Swords
Two of Swords Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Two of Swords
Three of Swords Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Three of Swords
Four of Swords Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Four of Swords
Five of Swords Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Five of Swords
Six of Swords Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Six of Swords
Seven of Swords Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Seven of Swords
Eight of Swords Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Eight of Swords
Nine of Swords Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Nine of Swords
Ten of Swords Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Ten of Swords
Page of Swords Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Page of Swords
Knight of Swords Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Knight of Swords
Queen of Swords Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Queen of Swords
King of Swords Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
King of Swords

The Coins

Ace of Coins Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Ace of Coins
Two of Coins Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Two of Coins
Three of Coins Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Three of Coins
Four of Coins Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Four of Coins
Five of Coins Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Five of Coins
Six of Coins Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Six of Coins
Seven of Coins Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Seven of Coins
Eight of Coins Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Eight of Coins
Nine of Coins Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Nine of Coins
Ten of Coins Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Ten of Coins
Page of Coins Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Page of Coins
Knight of Coins Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Knight of Coins
Queen of Coins Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
Queen of Coins
King of Coins Tarot card in Universal Waite deck
King of Coins

About the Universal Waite Deck

Dr. Arthur Edward Waite (1857–1942) was a genuine scholar of occultism whose published works include The Holy Kabbalah and The Key to the Tarot first issued in England in 1910. Waite utilized symbolism as the key to the Tarot pack. In The Key to the Tarot he writes: “The true Tarot is symbolism; it speaks no other language and offers no other signs.” What are the Tarot cards about which Waite so skillfully writes? What is the message of each card and when and where did these fascinating cardboard symbols first originate?

In the year 1369 playing cards are not mentioned in a decree issued by Charles VI of France against various forms of gambling; however, 28 years later, the Prevot of Paris, in an ordinance dated January 22, 1397, forbids working people from playing tennis, ball, cards, or ninepins excepting only on holidays. It is generally accepted that playing cards emerged in Europe in the latter half of the fourteenth century, probably first in Italy as a complete 78-card deck—or some inventive genius subsequently combined the common 56 cards known as the Minor Arcana with the 22 esoteric and emblematic Tarot cards known as the Major Arcana to form the 78-card pack.

During the fifteenth century Tarot cards were generally drawn or hand painted for the princely houses of Northern Italy and France. Subsequently, the card packs became more numerous because they were reproduced by techniques using woodcuts, stencils and copper engraving. By the sixteenth century a modified Tarot pack called the Tarot of Marseilles gained popularity.
Today, there is currently a phenomenal interest in Tarot fortune-telling cards. The serious investigator seeks to employ the cards as a means of placing the past into more meaningful perspective, understanding the present, and revealing the alternatives that exist in the future. Those less acquainted with Tarot cards are content to use them as a game and to indulge in readings at parties or in small private groups. From the collector’s standpoint, Tarot cards are both colorful and interesting.

Tarot decks are currently sought by teenagers, students, homemakers, businessmen, professional people, collectors—indeed, persons from all walks of life. Newspapers, magazines, radio, and television frequently comment on the Tarot vogue. Teenagers enjoy Tarot parties. Adults attend Tarot luncheons, charitable benefits, and Tarot picnics at which card readings are performed. Hollywood has even indulged in the growing trend with “popular” Tarot readers being present at parties to service the well-known guests.

One of the fascinating aspects about Tarot cards is their personal effect upon the individual who uses them. Waite successfully presents a new dimension to their meaning in The Key to the Tarot. Any Tarot reader, be they a serious scholar or a person dabbling in the occult, will benefit from Waite’s insight and keen perception.