The Pictorial Key to the Tarot

The Pictorial Key to the Tarot is a book by Arthur Edward Waite, first published in 1910. It was written as a guide to the symbolism and divinatory meaning of the 78 cards of the deck now commonly associated with Waite; the pictorial edition pairs Waite’s text with the colour plates of Pamela Colman Smith. The work traces the history and traditional symbols of the cards, discusses Waite’s scholarly — often critical — approach to earlier theories (including the discredited idea of an ancient Egyptian origin), and lays out practical methods for reading, including the Celtic Cross and other layouts. More than a mere companion to a deck, the book helped fix the interpretive framework for the Rider–Waite imagery and, through its clear exposition of symbol and method, played a major role in shaping modern tarot practice and popular readings in the 20th century and beyond. Its mix of historical survey, symbolic analysis, and practical instruction makes it a standard reference for students of esotericism, divination, and the Western occult tradition.