Alright, so we’re talking about the Universal Waite deck today, huh? Man, this one. I remember when I first heard people chat about it, always in the same breath as “Rider-Waite” but with this little “upgrade” tag. I figured, what’s the big deal? It’s just a recolor, right? Well, I eventually got my hands on one, and let me tell you, it’s a bit more than just a fresh coat of paint.
I snagged my copy online, just on a whim one lazy afternoon. When it arrived, that box felt pretty standard, nothing fancy, just a plain old cardboard tuck box. But as I slid it open and pulled out the cards, that’s where the first real hit came from. The colors. Oh man, the colors. They were just… vibrant. Like someone took the original, which honestly can look a bit washed out and dated sometimes, and just cranked up the saturation and cleaned up the lines. It wasn’t garish, though. It was just clearer, sharper, easier on the eyes. That was my initial reaction, anyway.
I started shuffling them, and the card stock felt decent, not too thick, not too thin. It bent nicely without feeling flimsy. For someone like me who shuffles a lot and loves to riffle, this was a good sign. I hate decks that feel like they’re gonna splinter after a week. These felt like they could take a beating. And believe me, they have. I’ve put this deck through its paces, shuffling it pretty much daily for a solid stretch.
When I actually started doing readings with it, that’s where the “Universal” part really started to click. Because the imagery is identical to the classic Rider-Waite Smith, right? Every symbol, every character, every little detail is exactly where you expect it. But with these brighter, more defined colors, everything just pops more. The emotions on the faces, the subtle details in the background, they just jump out at you. It felt like I was looking at an old friend, but that friend had just gotten a super clear vision after years of squinting. It made interpreting the cards feel… immediate. Less guesswork about what that little detail in the background was supposed to be, or what shade of whatever that color actually was.
I’ve used it for pretty much everything – quick morning pulls, in-depth spreads, even just flipping through it for meditation. For beginners, I can see why people rave about it. If you’re learning the RWS system, this deck is like the perfect textbook. Everything is laid bare, easy to see, easy to connect with. There’s no artistic interpretation throwing you off, no quirky style to distract you. It’s just pure, unadulterated RWS, but with better visuals. It helps you build that solid foundation without any extra baggage.
So, is this deck right for you?
- If you’re a newbie just dipping your toes into tarot, especially the Rider-Waite system, then hell yeah. This deck is a fantastic starting point. The clarity of the images will seriously help you grasp those meanings without feeling overwhelmed or confused by muddy artwork.
- If you’re like me, someone who’s been around the block a few times but appreciates a really solid, classic deck for everyday use or when you need a “no-nonsense” reading, then absolutely. It’s a workhorse deck.
- If you find the original RWS a bit too muted or visually dull for your taste, but you love the symbolism, then this is your sweet spot. It brings that classic art to life.
However, if you’re someone who thrives on unique artistic interpretations, or you like really dark, edgy, or super abstract art in your tarot, then this might feel a bit too… vanilla. It’s classic for a reason, but classic isn’t everyone’s jam. It doesn’t offer a new perspective on the cards; it just presents the old perspective in a really polished way. If you want a fresh take, you’ll need to look elsewhere.
Why do I know all this? Why did I spend so much time dissecting the Universal Waite, of all decks? Well, let me tell ya. A couple of years back, I hit a bit of a wall. Life just felt… blah. Everything was grey, I was feeling disconnected from my routines, and generally just a bit lost in the sauce. I had my collection of decks, sure, but I was just grabbing whatever and doing surface-level stuff. It wasn’t really connecting with me anymore.
I remember one morning, staring at my decks, feeling totally uninspired. I decided I needed a reset. I needed to go back to basics, really learn the core of tarot all over again, almost like a student. I told myself, “You’re going to pick one deck, and you’re going to live with it, daily, for six months. No other decks. No skipping days.” And after some thought, reading reviews, and just generally pondering, I chose the Universal Waite. Everyone said it was the clearest version of the classic, and I figured if I was going to re-learn, I wanted the most direct path.
So, every single morning, coffee in hand, I’d pull a card. Then a three-card spread. Then maybe a Celtic Cross on weekends. I was journaling every single pull, diving deep into the traditional meanings, comparing what I saw in the crisp imagery to what I was reading in books. I wasn’t just doing readings; I was studying, truly engaging with the deck on an almost academic level. It became my anchor in that period of blurriness. It was a daily ritual that helped me re-establish a sense of order and connection. That six-month deep dive, exclusively with this one deck, is why I feel like I know it inside and out. It helped me find my way back, piece by piece, and in doing so, I truly understood the power and the nuance of this specific deck in a way I never had before with any other deck in my collection.
