By Katrina Rasbold
Pamela Colman Smith’s interpretation of the Empress card in the Rider-Waite Tarot deck is a visual masterpiece rich in symbolism, embodying themes of nurturing, creativity, and abundance. As the quintessential archetype of the divine feminine, the Empress evokes a sense of fertility, beauty, and connection to nature. Let’s delve into the intricate layers of this card and uncover its meanings.
By Katrina Rasbold
The 7 of Swords from Pamela Colman Smith’s iconic Rider-Waite Tarot deck is a card that captures intrigue, strategy, and ethical ambiguity. Its vivid imagery and layered symbolism invite rich interpretation. In this blog post, we will delve into the meaning, symbolism, and potential messages of this enigmatic card.
By Katrina Rasbold
Pamela Colman Smith’s rendition of the King of Pentacles in the Rider-Waite Tarot deck is a visual feast of symbolism that embodies themes of material success, authority, and grounded leadership. By delving into the details of the imagery and its esoteric meanings, we can uncover profound insights into this card’s essence and its implications in readings.
By Katrina Rasbold
The Knight of Cups is one of the most evocative and romantic cards in the Tarot deck, often capturing the imagination of those who encounter it. Associated with emotion, intuition, and idealism, the Knight of Cups is a messenger of the heart, riding towards new horizons in search of meaning, love, and spiritual fulfillment. Pamela Colman Smith’s design for this card, as part of the famous Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot deck, has become a symbol in its own right—imbued with layers of symbolism and rich with meaning.
In this post, we’ll explore the symbolism of the Knight of Cups card in the context of the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot, its visual elements, and how it is interpreted in both upright and reversed positions. Continue reading Tarot Talk: Knight of Cups
Pamela Colman Smith’s Nine of Wands is a compelling visual representation of resilience, persistence, and guarded strength. The card depicts a wounded man gripping a staff, standing amidst eight other wands planted firmly in the ground. His wary yet determined gaze encapsulates a wealth of symbolic meaning, making this card a potent source of reflection for tarot readers. More personally, this card aptly reflects how I feel rolling into the last breaths of 2024. Continue reading Tarot Talk: Nine of Wands
By Katrina Rasbold
The 9 of Pentacles depicts a woman dressed in a luxurious golden robe adorned with floral motifs, standing in a lush garden. She is surrounded by nine pentacles embedded in the foliage, symbolizing material wealth and prosperity. Her hand rests lightly on a falcon, a creature associated with discipline, refinement, and control. In the background, a grand estate or vineyard reflects the fruits of her labor. Continue reading Tarot Talk: 9 of Pentacles
By Katrina Rasbold
Each week, “Tarot Talk” explores a card randomly drawn from the Rider-Smith-Waite deck to guide us in our energetic focus for the week. This week’s shuffle leads us to the court of the Queen of Cups. The Queen of Cups, one of the most evocative cards in Pamela Colman Smith’s classic Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot deck, is a luminous symbol of emotional depth, intuition, and compassion. Rooted in the watery realm of feelings and creativity, this card holds a profound message for those who encounter it in a reading. Let’s delve into its rich symbolism and explore its interpretations. Continue reading Tarot Talk: The Queen of Cups
By Katrina Rasbold
Each week, “Tarot Talk” explores a card randomly drawn from the Rider-Smith-Waite deck to guide us in our energetic focus for the week. This week’s shuffle leads us to the 9 of Wands card. The 9 of Wands is a card that resonates deeply with themes of resilience, persistence, and the battle-worn wisdom that comes from overcoming life’s challenges. Truly, after the past few months, aren’t many of us feeling this way? The 9 of Wands conveys a rich tapestry of symbolism and insight that can offer guidance in moments of struggle and reflection. Continue reading Tarot Talk: 9 of Wands
By Katrina Rasbold
Each week, “Tarot Talk” explores a card randomly drawn from the Rider-Smith-Waite deck to guide us in our energetic focus for the week. This week’s shuffle leads us to The Emperor card. As illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith for the Rider-Waite Tarot deck, this card is one of the most iconic representations of authority, structure, and stability in tarot symbolism. Its rich imagery provides a layered exploration of power, leadership, and the establishment of order, making it a cornerstone of the Major Arcana. Continue reading Tarot Talk: The Emperor
By Katrina Rasbold
The Strength card, part of the Major Arcana in the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot deck, is a deeply evocative and symbolic image designed by Pamela Colman Smith under the guidance of A. E. Waite. First published in 1909, the card’s striking imagery and subtle details have inspired countless interpretations, making it one of the most iconic representations in the world of tarot. Let’s dig a bit deeper into the symbolism and meanings of the Strength card. Continue reading Tarot Talk: Strength
By Katrina Rasbold
The Four of Cups, illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith in the iconic Rider-Waite Tarot deck, is a card that beckons contemplation and introspection. Often regarded as a card of apathy, dissatisfaction, and introspection, the Four of Cups delves into the complex human emotions of discontent and stagnation. This image, rich with symbolism, holds a mirror to our moments of contemplation, asking us to look deeper into the causes of our disinterest and disengagement. Let’s explore the symbolism in Smith’s illustration and what it means for those who draw this card in a reading. Continue reading Tarot Talk: Four of Cups
By Katrina Rasbold
The Sun card in the Rider-Waite Tarot deck, illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith, is a powerful symbol of joy, success, and enlightenment. As one of the most optimistic cards in the Major Arcana, it embodies themes of radiance, clarity, and positivity, channeling a life-affirming message that transcends mere fortune. Let’s explore the card’s rich symbolism and how it captures universal messages of warmth and growth. Continue reading Tarot Talk: The Sun
By Katrina Rasbold
A Journey of Rest and Renewal
The 4 of Swords, illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith for the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot deck, is one of the more serene yet deeply introspective cards in the Minor Arcana. Its imagery holds layers of symbolism that invite contemplation on rest, retreat, and spiritual recovery. While on the surface the card may appear simple, its profound meaning speaks to the essential human need for quiet reflection and inner renewal. In this post, we’ll explore the symbolism and interpretation of this card, shedding light on its deeper message. Continue reading Tarot Talk: 4 of Swords
By Katrina Rasbold
“Tarot Talk” is a once-a-week reading with a deep exploration of the card we pull. What are some aspects of the card (as per the original Pamela Colman Smith artwork) that add extra dimensions to the interpretation? How does that tell us what to focus on in the coming week? This week’s card is… Continue reading Tarot Talk: Eight of Cups
By Katrina Rasbold
The Pamela Colman Smith version of the 7 of Pentacles card evokes a sense of patience, reflection, and the fruits of labor. The classic interpretation marries up nicely to her imagery, but we can look deeper and see greater layers to this message.
Continue reading Tarot Talk: 7 of Pentacles
By Katrina Rasbold
“Tarot Talk” is a once-a-week reading with a deep exploration of the card we pull. What are some aspects of the card (as per the original Pamela Colman Smith artwork) that add extra dimensions to the interpretation? How does that tell us what to focus on in the coming week? This week’s card is… Continue reading Tarot Talk: Ace of Cups
By Katrina Rasbold
“Tarot Talk” is a once-a-week reading with a deep exploration of the card we pull. What are some aspects of the card (as per the original Pamela Colman Smith artwork) that add extra dimensions to the interpretation? How does that tell us what to focus on in the coming week? This week’s card is… Continue reading Tarot Talk: The Fool
By Katrina Rasbold
“Tarot Talk” is a once-a-week reading with a deep exploration of the card we pull. What are some aspects of the card (as per the original Pamela Colman Smith artwork) that add extra dimensions to the interpretation? How does that tell us what to focus on in the coming week? This week’s card is… Continue reading Tarot Talk: Wheel of Fortune
By Katrina Rasbold
“Tarot Talk” is a once-a-week reading with a deep exploration of the card we pull. What are some aspects of the card (as per the original Pamela Colman Smith artwork) that add extra dimensions to the interpretation? How does that tell us what to focus on in the coming week? This week’s card is… Continue reading Tarot Talk: Page of Swords
By Katrina Rasbold
“Tarot Talk” is a once-a-week reading with a deep exploration of the card we pull. What are some aspects of the card (as per the original Pamela Colman Smith artwork) that add extra dimensions to the interpretation? How does that tell us what to focus on in the coming week? This week’s card is… Continue reading Tarot Talk: 8 of Wands