Originally published in 1909 to little fanfare, the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot went on to become the bestselling tarot deck of all time. This thorough guide shares the fascinating history of this important deck, a complete analysis of what each card means, and 78 spreads to help you integrate each card s unique spiritual energy. Explore Waite and Smith s involvement in the magical order known as the Golden Dawn and discover how they combined their knowledge of astrology, Kabbalah, metaphysics, mythology, and theatre to realize their profound vision. This book delves deeply into the roots of these influential cards, exploring how artist Pamela Colman Smith and occultist Arthur Waite brought together an enchanting and beguiling set of esoteric symbols and formed a magical deck that continues to influence the field of divination today.