Category: Resident GE Blog Columnists

By Katrina Rasbold

Pamela Colman Smith’s depiction of the Justice card in the Rider–Waite–Smith (RWS) tarot deck offers a rich and balanced portrayal of equilibrium, moral clarity, and karmic consequence. As the eleventh card in the Major Arcana (numbered VIII in some traditional decks), Justice sits at the midpoint of the Fool’s Journey, marking a moment of reckoning, truth, and ethical discernment.

This post explores the symbolism and interpretation of the Justice card, including visual details, esoteric meanings, numerological significance, and advice for when this card appears in a reading. Continue reading Tarot Talk: Justice

By Katrina Rasbold

The Ace of Swords, illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith under the guidance of Arthur Edward Waite, is a card that gleams with intensity, clarity, and decisive power. It is the purest embodiment of the element of air within the Minor Arcana and signals new beginnings in thought, truth, and communication. With its striking imagery and subtle symbolism, this card heralds a mental breakthrough or the slicing away of confusion to reveal crystalline insight. Continue reading Tarot Talk – The Ace of Swords

By Katrina Rasbold

The Tarot deck designed by Pamela Colman Smith under the guidance of Arthur Edward Waite is one of the most iconic and enduring images in esoteric symbolism. Each card is rich with layered meanings, psychological insight, and archetypal resonance. Among them, the Eight of Swords stands out as a visually striking and emotionally charged card. It is a card that immediately evokes feelings of entrapment and helplessness — yet, like all cards in Tarot, it holds a mirror to deeper truths, inviting us to look beyond surface-level suffering.

Let’s take a closer look at this powerful image, its symbolism, and the multiple ways it can be interpreted. Continue reading Tarot Talk: Eight of Swords

By Katrina Rasbold

Pamela Colman Smith’s illustrations for the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck revolutionized tarot interpretation, embedding each card with rich visual symbolism that speaks to intuition as much as intellect. Among these, the Three of Wands stands out as a quietly powerful card—one that speaks of foresight, personal growth, and the broadening of horizons.

Let’s take a closer look at the card and unpack its layered meaning, symbolism, and spiritual resonance. Continue reading Tarot Talk: Three of Wands

By Katrina Rasbold

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The Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck, illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith under the direction of Arthur Edward Waite, is a cornerstone of modern tarot practice. Among its 78 cards, The Hanged Man stands out as one of the most enigmatic and paradoxical. Its unsettling image—a man suspended upside down by one foot—invites a pause. But in that pause lies the card’s true power: the invitation to surrender, shift perspective, and embrace transformation. Continue reading Tarot Talk: The Hanged Man

By Katrina Rasbold

Among the most visually celebratory cards in the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot deck, the Four of Wands radiates joy, accomplishment, and stability. Designed by Pamela Colman Smith under the guidance of Arthur Edward Waite, this card belongs to the Suit of Wands, which governs creativity, passion, and action. Its imagery suggests festivity and harmony, making it one of the most positive cards in the deck. But beneath its bright and cheerful surface lies a deeper symbolism that connects to numerology, esotericism, and human experience. Continue reading Tarot Talk: Four of Wands