She illustrated the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck,
the world’s most popular tarot deck.
Rider was the company that produced it,
Waite was her collaborator. She received no money
from the sales and died penniless while Waite became
rich and famous. I wonder about the tarot readings
she did for herself. Did she pull the Three of Pentacles,
the card about money from teamwork and shared ventures,
and hope for a fair portion for her labour?
Did she pick the Fool, the card with a dreamy-looking artist
standing near the edge of a cliff, and worry about
being taken advantage of? And what about the Ten of Swords,
about someone waking from a bad dream?
Her romantic partnerships are unclear and she never married.
Perhaps her fingers steered away from the Ten of Cups,
the card of marriage and children, knowing that these
could leave little room for art. She probably picked
the High Priestess, seeking spiritual enlightenment,
and the Moon, howling at convention. She made a
poster in support of women’s suffrage, and must have felt
at home with the Empress and the Three of Cups–
women toasting each other in mutual appreciation.
Meet Mago Contributor Andrea Nicki
Note: I learned about Pamela-Colman-Smith from reading a blog article by Beth Maiden which celebrates her life and amazing mystical art: https://www.autostraddle.com/fools-journey-the-fascinating-life-of-pamela-colman-smith-267673/.
I can’t remember the artist’s name, but the woman who did the wonderful artwork on Alistair Crowley’s pack was probably equally cheated. Neither of these packs could ever have become popular without these women’s insights.
Thanks for your comment. I’ll have to look at that pack you mention. Yes women being cheated…
Wow, I had no idea that the tarot deck was create by a woman and yet this doesn’t surprise me a bit! Reading cards, leaves, wires (Peru), the stars, animals signs is such a woman’s thing.
Thanks for this instructive essay.
Thanks for your comment. Yes and she was such a wonderful artist.