A.E. Waite’s The Pictorial Key to the Tarot is a foundational text for anyone serious about understanding tarot, particularly the Rider-Waite-Smith deck. Published in 1910 alongside the deck he co-created with Pamela Colman Smith, the book explores tarot’s symbolism, history, and divinatory uses. It’s divided into three parts: an introduction to the theory behind tarot, detailed descriptions of each card, and a section on divinatory meanings. While the writing can be dense, the book offers rich insights into the spiritual and symbolic layers of tarot.

For advanced readers, the book’s greatest value lies in its exploration of the Major Arcana. Waite’s interpretations uncover deeper, mystical themes, encouraging readers to see the cards as more than tools for divination—they are keys to spiritual growth. His descriptions of cards like The Fool and The High Priestess reveal a shift in focus toward inner wisdom and archetypal energies. However, Waite’s writing style, filled with archaic language and cryptic phrasing, can make the text hard to follow. He also holds back on explaining some symbols fully, leaving readers to fill in the gaps themselves.

The Minor Arcana receives less attention, and Waite’s divinatory meanings for all cards can feel brief or overly rigid. Despite these shortcomings, the book’s historical importance and its role in shaping modern tarot cannot be overstated. It’s especially valuable for understanding the intent and symbolism behind the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, which remains one of the most widely used tarot decks today.

While beginners may find Waite’s approach too theoretical, experienced readers will appreciate the depth of his interpretations and the insight they offer into tarot’s esoteric roots. For those willing to put in the effort, The Pictorial Key to the Tarot provides a deeper connection to the spiritual and symbolic aspects of the cards. It’s a challenging but rewarding read that continues to inspire tarot practitioners over a century later.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I’ve read many books on tarot. I can say that this one was concise, easy to follow, and the authors voice was distinctive. The pictorial key to the tarot is great for new practitioners

Repeater Books provided an early galley for review.

The first volume of this reference was published back in 1910, and Waite is one the recognized o.g. resources when it comes to all things tarot. This book predominantly features the classic card designs by Pamela Colman Smith (while not the same as those on the Morgan-Greer tarot deck I own they were still very familiar to me).

The introductory sections talk about the history of tarot before diving into the details of twenty-two cards of the Greater Arcana and the fifty-six cards (broken across the four suits: wands, cups, swords and pentacles) of the Lesser Arcana. Most helpful are the two summary sections that quickly provide the standard natural position and reverse meanings of the cards when used in divination activities.

One area that was new to me was the additional meanings of the recurrences of cards of the Lesser Arcana when they happen within a reading (both for the natural positions and the reverse).

The final sections focus specifically on the art of divination and provide various layouts with which to do readings: the Celtic layout of ten cards, a more detailed forty-two card reading, a slightly different thirty-five card method. Of these, the Celtic one was the method of which I had been previously introduced as it tends to be one of the quicker versions. I have also seen even simpler readings made up of three cards or just a single card (the latter much like a daily horoscope approach to divination with tarot).

For someone just starting to dive into all things tarot, this volume with its roots in the classic publication is a good place to start.

Thank you, Repeater books, for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own: As someone who loves tarot, this book has been an incredible addition to my collection. Waite’s explanations of the cards are detailed but easy to follow, making it great for beginners and experienced readers alike.

What really sets this edition apart is the forward by Sereptie—it gives the tarot a whole new layer of meaning, connecting it to activism and social change. I also loved the quick-reference guide in the appendix; it’s super handy when you need a quick keyword during a reading. If you’re into tarot for more than just divination, this book will definitely give you something to think about. If you are a tarot reader this book is a classic, so probably you already have one in your shelf, also I loved the cover. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

So let's get this out of the way first-- this is the original 1910 text by Arthur E. Waite repackaged in a new edition for 2025. As far as the main body of text goes, everything to the best of my memory is exactly the same. What's new here is the very pretty cover and a nice foreword by Sereptie (Craig Laubach). There are many editions of Waite's text (910 according to Goodreads but I wouldn't be surprised if there's a lot more than that), so why this one in particular?

Your decision is likely going to come down to if you like the cover or if you enjoyed the foreword. If you don't care about that, there are infinite different versions of this same text.

Now then to the actual text itself: if you consider yourself a tarot reader, witch, esoteric, or are at all interested in the history of magic, this is a must read. Waite's explanations of the cards and what they mean are the modern gold standard everybody and their grandma uses for their tarot readings, and for good reason. This is basically a tarot reader's bible: every other tarot book out on the market today is derivative of this work, even if they're coming up with a unique deck divorced from the Rider-Waite interpretation, they would have to know this stuff to be certain their deck is actually unique. You've got some sample card spreads here, the meaning of each and every card, a decent bit of historical information, and a bibliography in the back for further reading (which I highly suggest you do, but I'm a history nerd).

All this to say: if you don't have a copy of Waite's original text, there's no reason not to get this one. For better and for worse, they didn't change anything other than add a foreword and a nice cover. The language has not been updated to be more modern or to suit modern sensibilities as best I can tell. Keep in mind this was originally published in 1910. It's a must have book for anybody who says they're "witchy" or reads the cards.

I hadn’t realized that this was just a reprint of a book from the early 1900s by one of the authors of the original RWS tarot. There is a lot of info here that is helpful for some reference but the tone is condescending and pompous and I was hoping for a more updated and inclusive interpretation tool.

I found the 2025 new edition of The Pictorial Key to the Tarot by A.E. Waite to be a challenging read due to its overly complex language. While the card descriptions were somewhat helpful, the writing style made it difficult to fully engage with the material. Unfortunately, I would not recommend this book to readers looking for a clear and accessible guide to tarot.

The Pictorial Key to the Tarot is an update of the original. You can find books that are more modern, and some that are more creative, but this book is worth the read. It gives you the original and visual meanings from the actual card meanings.
If you are a student of the tarot, you shouldn't miss this title.

Thank you to Repeater Books and Net Galley for a digital ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

#RepeaterBooks #NetGalley #ThePictorialKeytotheTarot #AEWaite

Im still a beginner of tarot. This was a LOT of information, which is good... I just found it very boring. Haha but that doesn't negate the fact that it's an excellently informative book.

Great resource for people new to Tarot but lacking in greater depth for those with a solid background in reading.

If you’ve ever wondered how a deck of cards can hold so much mystery, meaning, and maybe even a sprinkle of rebellion, *The Pictorial Key to the Tarot* has your back. This new edition of A.E. Waite’s classic guide not only dives deep into the history and symbology of tarot but also serves up a fresh forward by Sereptie, creator of *The Philosopher’s Tarot*. Together, they explore how these iconic cards can inspire change and reflection in a world that often feels upside down—no reversed card pun intended.

Whether you’re a seasoned tarot reader or just learning how to shuffle without spilling, this book is packed with wisdom to help you understand the Smith-Waite deck’s 78 cards and their many layers of meaning. Plus, the appendix with quick-reference keywords is a lifesaver for those moments when you just can’t remember what the Nine of Swords is trying to tell you (hint: probably time to chill).

This isn’t just a guidebook; it’s a celebration of tarot’s power to unlock creativity, challenge norms, and maybe even spark a little magic in your life. Grab your deck, give it a shuffle, and see where the cards—and this book—take you!

The Pictorial Key to the Tarot. This is an updated edition of the original book. It is quite old fashioned, but studying the original text is beneficial if you want a rounded view of the cards. I wouldn't recommend it for beginners, but it is useful for anyone wanting to expand their basic knowledge.. It includes historical, social and political information and would also be a good artistic reference. Used in conjunction with other guides this is a useful text to have on your shelf.

Thank you to Net Galley and Repeater Books for this ARC!

The Pictorial Key to the Tarot by AE Waite is a beautifully written reference book to accompany your tarot journey. My favorite part of this book was the foreword! Do not skip it! I will be buying this edition specifically for the foreword by Sereptie. The actual book itself is really written for more experienced tarot users, but if you feel drawn to it earlier on, I would recommend picking it up whenever feels right for you. I enjoyed the emphasis on tarot symbolism lying in the collective unconscious and about how it is to be used less as a fortune telling tool, but more as a tool to open a dialogue with the person having the reading done.

This pictorial guide is a reprint of the original 1910 publication by Arthur Edward Waite: The Pictorial Key to The Tarot, Being Fragments of a Secret Tradition Under the Veil of Divination.


When I first started reading this reprint, I thought to myself: "This guide must have been written centuries ago. The language is almost medieval in structure and tone." A little research disabused me of this suspicion. Despite the archaic language and sentence structure employed by the author, this book was, in fact, published in the first decade of the 20th century: in 1910, to be exact. The learned author refers to the numerous iterations of the imagery employed in tarot decks throughout its known history. This book is for avid devotees of The Tarot, for historians who already have decades of study and analysis under their erudite belts. I doubt that it would be much use as a guide for novices. The convoluted - indeed "squire-ly" - language and the dense sentence structures often had me rereading a passage more than once.

The Tarot is a hobby of mine. It is a very popular skill to have at parties or on seaside vacations. I am not a psychic. I memorized the meanings of all 78 cards and use the Celtic Cross layout to interpret a story - as laid out in the cards selected by the questioner. Quite often my questioner will complain that my interpretation of their card selection did not answer their (secret) question. I always remind them that THEY drew the cards, not I. (I also have to confess that this happens in my own self-readings.!)

I'm rating this reprint of the original edition a 3.5 out of 5 stars, because those of us who want a basic knowledge of The Tarot will get more than we bargained for in this verbally weighty tome. For collectors of Tarot books and memorabilia, this colourful, beautifully illustrated book will be a welcome edition to their bookshelves.

My thanks to the publisher, Repeater Books, and NetGalley for an ARC of this reprint in exchange for an honest review.