Pictorial Key to the Tarot

First published in 1910, The Pictorial Key to the Tarot is the original instruction book for the modern Tarot. It was written by A. E. Waite, the designer of the Rider-Waite deck.

Previous editions of this book were only illustrated with black & white outlines of the cards, so this version’s full-colour images makes it easier to see and understand the subtle messages hidden within the imagery of Waite’s deck.

Is the person in the 9 of Swords card a man or a woman? Why do the Wands have green shoots sprouting from them? Is the angel of Temperance a male, female, or neither? In this book Waite gives you all the answers.

Despite the author’s pontifical writing style, this book is extremely valuable for understanding the placement of symbols and imagery within the cards. Many of the secrets from Waite’s Masonic and magical organisations were not allowed to be made known to the uninitiated, so Waite was deliberately vague about the meanings of some images, but many obscure and often overlooked symbols are brought to the reader’s attention through this book.

The Pictorial Key to the Tarot is for the Tarot reader who wants a deeper appreciation of the esoteric wisdom of the cards.