The Curiosity Shelf Board Game of the Month:

  The Original Tarot (78-Card Deck) Review: The Most Influential Tarot Deck Ever Created

Rating: 10/10 for Tarot Enthusiasts, Collectors, Beginners, and Students of Symbolism

Some games challenge your strategy. Some games test your memory. The Original Tarot does something entirely different: it invites players and readers into a world of imagination, symbolism, storytelling, personal reflection, and centuries of tradition.

Featuring the iconic artwork of Pamela Colman Smith from 1909, this deck represents the foundation upon which modern tarot culture was built. Created under the guidance of Arthur Edward Waite, the Rider-Waite-Smith tradition remains the most recognized tarot system in the English-speaking world.

This edition offers:

• 78-card tarot deck
• Premium 350 gsm linen-finish cardstock
• 86-page guidebook
• Upright and reversed meanings
• Beginner-friendly instructions
• Traditional 1909 artwork
• Easy-to-learn 3-card spread

Whether you're approaching tarot as a game of symbolic interpretation, a tool for self-reflection, a storytelling device, or a spiritual practice, few decks match its significance.

History of the Deck

Origins Before 1909

Tarot cards originally appeared in Europe during the 15th century as card games. Over centuries, they gradually became associated with symbolism, mysticism, personal reflection, and divination traditions. [en.wikipedia.org], [tarot.ac]

The Creation of the Rider-Waite-Smith Deck

In 1909, mystic Arthur Edward Waite commissioned artist Pamela Colman Smith to create an entirely new tarot deck. Both belonged to the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, an influential esoteric society.

Smith's innovation changed tarot forever.

Earlier tarot decks often displayed simple arrangements of cups, swords, wands, and coins on many cards. Smith instead illustrated all 78 cards with vivid narrative scenes, making meanings easier to understand intuitively.

The deck was published in 1909 by William Rider & Son in London and soon became the most influential tarot deck in history.

Initial Public Reaction

The deck attracted interest among occult enthusiasts and spiritual study groups.

Early audiences appreciated:

• Rich symbolism
• Beautiful artwork
• Easier interpretation
• Expanded accessibility

Over time, readers discovered that Smith's illustrations made tarot dramatically more approachable for newcomers. This helped fuel its widespread popularity.

How It Became a Cult Classic

More than a century later, this deck remains the standard by which most tarot decks are judged.

Millions of readers have learned tarot using this system, and countless modern decks borrow its imagery, symbolism, and structure. Estimates place circulation at more than 100 million copies worldwide.

Its influence is comparable to:

• Monopoly in family board games
• Dungeons & Dragons in roleplaying games
• Chess in abstract strategy games

What's Included

• 78 Tarot Cards
• 86-page Guidebook
• Upright Meanings
• Reversed Meanings
• Three-Card Spread Instructions
• Linen Finish Premium Cards

How to Play Tarot

Unlike traditional competitive card games, tarot does not have a universally accepted "winner."

Instead, the goal is interpretation, reflection, storytelling, discussion, and insight.

Basic Reading

Step 1

·       Shuffle the deck thoroughly.

Step 2

·       Think about a question.

Example:

• Career
• Relationships
• Goals
• Personal growth

Step 3

·       Draw cards.

Step 4

·       Interpret meanings.

Step 5

·       Combine symbols into a narrative.

The Famous Three-Card Spread

Draw three cards:

Card One: Past

What has influenced the situation?

Card Two: Present

What is happening now?

Card Three: Future

What direction is the situation may be moving toward?

Important: Tarot does not reliably predict the future. Many readers treat future-position cards as symbolic possibilities, guidance, or reflection rather than factual forecasts.

Understanding the Structure

Major Arcana (22 Cards)

These represent major life themes.

Examples include:

The Fool

• New beginnings
• Adventure
• Faith
• Possibility

The Magician

• Skill
• Action
• Manifestation

The High Priestess

• Intuition
• Mystery
• Inner wisdom

Death

Despite the scary name:

• Transformation
• Endings
• Renewal
• Change

The Star

• Hope
• Healing
• Inspiration

The World

• Completion
• Fulfillment
• Achievement

Minor Arcana (56 Cards)

Four suits:

Wands

Represents:

• Ambition
• Creativity
• Passion

Cups

Represents:

• Emotions
• Relationships
• Love

Swords

Represents:

• Thought
• Challenges
• Communication

Pentacles

Represents:

• Money
• Career
• Material matters

Reading Upright vs Reversed Cards

Upright

Energy flows naturally.

Example:

The Sun

• Success
• Joy
• Confidence

Reversed

Energy may be blocked, delayed, hidden, or internalized.

Example:

The Sun Reversed

• Temporary pessimism
• Unrealized success
• Self-doubt

How to Give Someone a Reading

Beginner Method

Ask them:

"What area of life would you like insight into?"

Then:

1. Shuffle deck
2. Have them focus on question
3. Draw three cards
4. Analyze individually
5. Connect into a story

Good readers ask questions rather than make declarations.

Example:

Instead of:

·       ❌ "You will get a promotion."

Use:

·       ✅ "This card often represents recognition and accomplishment. Are you currently pursuing a major goal?"

Example Readings

Positive Reading

·       Past: Six of Wands

·       Present: The Star

·       Future: The Sun

Interpretation:

• Previous success
• Current healing
• Strong momentum

Themes:

• Optimism
• Confidence
• Opportunity

Neutral Reading

·       Past: Four of Cups

·       Present: Justice

·       Future: Two of Wands

Interpretation:

• Reflection
• Decision-making
• Planning ahead

Themes:

• Balance
• Patience
• Preparation

Challenging Reading

·       Past: Five of Pentacles

·       Present: The Tower

·       Future: Death

Interpretation:

• Hardship
• Sudden change
• Transformation

Not doom.

Rather:

• Old structures fall away
• New growth emerges
• Difficult transitions create future opportunities

Winning at Tarot

While tarot isn't traditionally "won," skilled readers develop success through:

Pattern Recognition

Notice recurring themes.

Symbol Study

Learn imagery deeply.

Storytelling Ability

Connect cards coherently.

Listening Skills

Understand context.

Open-Mindedness

Avoid rigid interpretations.

Artistic Significance

The artwork by Pamela Colman Smith is one of the most celebrated visual achievements in tarot history. Her scenes transformed abstract symbols into living stories and helped make tarot widely accessible.

Common visual motifs include:

• White roses (purity)
• Mountains (challenges)
• Water (emotion)
• Crowns (authority)
• Paths (life journeys)
• Suns and moons (awareness and mystery)

Cultural Impact

Few card systems have influenced modern culture as deeply.

Tarot appears in:

• Films
• Television
• Music
• Literature
• Fashion
• Video games
• Social media

The Rider-Waite-Smith imagery has become the visual language most people associate with tarot.

Modern Relevance

Today's audiences often use tarot for:

• Self-reflection
• Journaling
• Creative writing
• Meditation
• Personal growth
• Group discussion

Even many skeptics appreciate tarot as a tool for exploring perspectives and asking better questions.

Philosophical Themes

Fate vs Free Will

Are we shaping our future?

Or discovering it?

Meaning

How do humans create meaning from symbols?

Change

Can endings actually be beginnings?

Identity

Who are we becoming?

Uncertainty

How do people navigate unknowns?

Relationship to Politics and Culture

Tarot frequently appears in discussions involving:

• Identity
• Empowerment
• Mental wellness
• Spirituality
• Community building
• Alternative perspectives

Its popularity reflects modern interest in finding meaning and reflection in an increasingly fast-paced world.

Final Verdict

The Original Tarot is more than a deck of cards. It is one of the most influential artistic, cultural, and symbolic card systems ever created.

Its stunning 1909 artwork, accessible symbolism, and endless capacity for interpretation have kept it beloved for over a century. Whether approached as a reflective practice, storytelling game, educational tool, artistic masterpiece, or spiritual tradition, the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot remains a timeless classic whose imagery continues to inspire millions around the world.

Discussion Questions

1. Why do symbols resonate so strongly with people?
2. Should tarot be viewed as entertainment, art, spirituality, psychology, or all four?
3. What card best represents modern society?
4. How much of life is choice versus circumstance?
5. Why do people seek guidance during uncertainty?
6. Which Major Arcana card best reflects your current life stage?
7. Does interpretation reveal more about the card or the reader?

Tarot Night Activities

Three-Card Circle

Everyone draws:

• Past
• Present
• Future

Then discusses interpretations.

Storytelling Tarot

Create a group story using randomly drawn cards.

Character Creation

Build fictional characters based on a tarot spread.

Creative Writing Challenge

Write a short story inspired by a three-card reading.

Art Interpretation

Compare symbolism and meanings across cards.

Similar Recommendations

If you enjoy tarot, consider:

Dixit

Beautiful imagery and interpretation-based gameplay.

Mysterium

Cooperative mystery-solving through symbolic clues.

Once Upon a Time

Storytelling card game.

Dreamscape

Creative imagination and symbolism.

Gloom

Narrative storytelling through cards.

Obscurio

Visual deduction using surreal artwork.

Call to Adventure

Character-building through symbolic choices.