Customer Reviews

Giant Rider-Waite Tarot Deck: Complete 78-Card Deck

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Rider-Waite is the Tarot standard. Combine it with the sheer size of these jumbo cards and you get a higher impact reading. Holding and placing these cards becomes an act that is larger than life. I've found that clients touching these larger cards are more likely to say they feel a special sensation. If the table isn't big enough use the floor. In fact, for nervous first-time clients it's a great ice-breaker.

If you find the artwork of the Rider-Waite Tarot Deck simple yet artistic, then buy this deck. Size does matters when it comes to artwork.

But for those who are thinking of using it to read fortunes for customers, you will find this deck rather "clumsy"; get the normal size deck instead.

_I finally broke down and treated myself to this giant Rider-Waite tarot deck. I own multiple decks of the standard size and the miniature deck, but I always wanted this larger example of contemplation. I don't use them for reading, but they are perfect for contemplation of the symbolism.

_I only use the Rider-Waite deck for a very good reason. Arthur Waite saw that there had been considerable "drift" in the symbolism of the cards over the years. He took it upon himself as one of the preeminent scholars of the occult of modern times to rectify and restore the deepest archetypical meaning to the deck (including the colors.) After all, that is the meaning of the cards- it is also how they work. These are instruments that resonate with the highest archetypes in the realm of the Forms. This is also why they require contemplation- you have to internalize the deepest traditional meanings. You have to "feel" the cards through deep inner focus on what you have both read and lived. If the cards mean nothing to you, or if you are ignorant of the old meanings, then they simply won't "work." You have to establish a connection- "As above, so below." Skeptics will laugh at this, because to them these are simply pieces of card stock with no "mechanism" to them. The mechanism is in the underlying structure and currents of the cosmos.

_On a mundane note, these cards will last for decades with respectful use. I've even cleaned mine with alcohol and Windex without doing damage to the surface (I had a fool apply scotch tape to one of my decks once...)

Why am I continually surprised that people who write reviews don't know how to write reviews? You'd think I'd be used to it by now, *sigh*

From 1998 to 2007 not one stinking review here gives the actual size of the cards! which is what makes this particular deck so special.

So, here it is-- SIZE OF CARDS:

3 3/4 INCHES WIDE by 6 1/2 INCHES TALL, or,

approximately 9 1/2 CENTIMETERS WIDE by 16 1/2 CENTIMETERS TALL.

The Outer Box the cards come in is: 4 INCHES WIDE by 7 INCHES TALL, or 10 CENTIMETERS WIDE by 17 1/2 CENTIMETERS TALL.

See? it wasn't so hard to give this vital information after all.

As for the reviewer who stated, "very basic, typical 'cookie cutter tarot'", all I can say is:

HUH? You must be joking.

The Rider-Waite, now called the Rider-Waite-Smith, or RWS for short, in respect for artist Pamela Coleman Smith, (Rider was the Publisher; Waite was Arthur Edward Waite the Designer of the deck; and Pamela, the artist, who brought Waite's vision to life), is not a typical cookie-cutter tarot. It is, rather, 'THE MOLD' for all the other cookie-cutter tarots out there.

First published in 1909, the vast, VAST majority of tarot on the market today is a clone of the Rider-Waite-Smith. This, of course, does not include all the Marseilles- or Thoth-type decks out there.

Yes, there are more beautifully-artistic RWS-clones. But in all my Collecting, I have yet to find even one other that incorporates all the symbology in the RWS. Indeed, many, MANY tarot artists don't even read tarot; they've just taken the theme and applied their artistry. Their artwork is stunning, no doubt, but they miss so much of the symbology in the RWS, assuming that it's just 'prettiness' or 'artistic license' on the part of Pamela Coleman Smith. And nothing could be further from the truth. There is not one single element in the RWS that does not have a symbological meaning; from the number of flowers on a character's tunic to whether or not a belt is knotted or just wrapped around.

No, the RWS is not a 'cookie-cutter' tarot. It is 'THE COOKIE' itself. Hence, why everyone copies it, and fails miserably in their execution.

This GIANT-sized RWS is a perfect start for beginning students of tarot as all the symbological details are easily seen. It is also perfect, as others have said, for meditation and for teaching purposes.

There are many tarot-readers now who call themselves 'intuitive readers'. They pull cards from any deck and say what they see, or what happens to pop into their head. This is all well and good, I guess. But for the serious student who desires to understand 'WHY' they see what they see or what pops into their head, you cannot get any better than the RWS. It's all there, nothing is missing. One can wade into deep water with the RWS and, years later, will find themselves going deeper still.

The Rider-Waite Tarot is considered the "classic" Tarot deck, and by most mystical schools the most authentic. Certainly, the symbols are powerful and useful, and if you resonate with more classic images and traditions, then you will likely prefer the images on this deck to those in more modern decks.

As to the size of the cards, these are probably not good for everyday readings, or for professional readings, for the standard practitioner. If you have a handicap that limits your hand movement or dexterity, or limits your eyesight, then this deck would be perfect. Also, it is useful in teaching situations, when teaching a large group of people the meanings of cards, various layouts, etc. And if you like big cards, then this is certainly for you.

Ultimately, the Rider-Waite isn't as good a "starter" deck as the Universal Waite, in my opinion, but it's certainly a classic. Check out Amber Jayanti's <i>Living the Tarot</i> as a wonderful companion volume to this deck.

This deck is very beautiful, and is a great one to start with tarot. I've read several clients before, and they enjoy them very much, almost as much as I. Shuffling these are rather easy, all you have to do is shuffle with the longer width of the cards. It is a good deck to read, because of their obvious size. Many people cannot see how big these are online, they are very large, even if you're expecting their size they will seem larger than you thought when you get them. The rider waite also has very minimal christian junk in it and only tarot readers MIGHT, mind, to the customer they are still very good.

If you're going to buy a tarot, this is the one to get--it's my favorite anyway.

The Rider Waite Tarot is the most popular deck out there. Why? because it uses traditional symbols that are easiest to learn.

And if you like a larger version of the normal Rider Waite, where you don't need to use a magnifying glass to see the details, then this is the one to get.

Currently I am taking an intense training in Tarot. The two decks we are using are the Rider-Waite deck and the Golden Dawn deck. I highly recommend both decks, especially if used together. The Rider-Waite deck is about how the states represented by the cards work (first level training); the Golden Dawn deck is about how those states are refined (second level training). Using the Rider-Waite deck to learn about the cards and their associated states is the first step; then learning about the Golden Dawn deck and comparing those to the Rider-Waite deck is especially helpful.

This deck is a fun deck, it is so big it makes a wonderul conversation piece. Although I am not a fan of the rider and waite decks, this is a must have for any collector.

These Tarot cards are very big. That is good if you are still studying the imagery of each card in order to become familiar with them. However, practical use of such large cards is cumbersome. They are difficult to shuffle and to handle. I would recommend this deck as a learning tool only.